Population 262,530 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in South Los Angeles
Household size in South Los Angeles
| Period | South Los Angeles | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.28 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.38 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.37 | 3.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.35 | 3.01 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | −0.13 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
South Los Angeles is a place of big households: 3.35 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Household size has crept up from 3.28 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in South Los Angeles
| Period | South Los Angeles | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.2 | 35.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 31.5 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 32.5 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.2 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.0 | +4.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
South Los Angeles is young: half of its residents are under 34.2, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 30.2, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in South Los Angeles
| Period | South Los Angeles | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.7% | 14.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.9% | 14.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 20.8% | 12.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 22.3% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head more than one in five households in South Los Angeles (22.3%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 3.5 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. South Los Angeles has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Los Angeles neighborhoods.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in South Los Angeles
Renters in South Los Angeles
| Period | South Los Angeles | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 66.0% | 48.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 67.6% | 50.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 66.7% | 51.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 67.8% | 51.6% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in South Los Angeles: 67.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 32.6% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northeast and least common in the west. The renter share is up 1.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in South Los Angeles
| Period | South Los Angeles | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 6.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in South Los Angeles: 7.5% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The Los Angeles area as a whole looks much the same. Vacancy is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in South Los Angeles
| Period | South Los Angeles | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1950 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1948 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1950 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1953 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
South Los Angeles is a place of older homes: half were built before 1953, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1950 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the west has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in South Los Angeles
| Period | South Los Angeles | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $940 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,045 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,220 | $1,755 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,593 | $2,279 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$652 | +$951 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in South Los Angeles runs $1,593 a month at the median, utilities included, close to the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in the Los Angeles area as a whole ($2,279). Rents are up $652 a month from 2006–10, a 69% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 39.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in South Los Angeles
Bachelor's degrees in South Los Angeles
| Period | South Los Angeles | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 29.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 30.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.9% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.2% | 37.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.8 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in South Los Angeles: 19.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.8 points, as it has nationally. South Los Angeles has a lower share of college graduates than the great majority of Los Angeles neighborhoods.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in South Los Angeles
| Period | South Los Angeles | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 58.5% | 76.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 60.8% | 77.7% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 64.9% | 80.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 66.5% | 82.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.0 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About a third of adults in South Los Angeles never finished high school, well above the national share: only 66.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 8.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. South Los Angeles has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of Los Angeles neighborhoods.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in South Los Angeles
| Period | South Los Angeles | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.0% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.7% | 10.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.3% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.6% | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in South Los Angeles: 10.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
South Los Angeles compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Los Angeles | 3.35 | 34.2 | 22.3% | 67.8% | 7.5% | 1953 | $1,593 | 19.2% | 66.5% | 10.6% |
| Hyde Park | 2.66 | 40.7 | 15.5% | 53.5% | 8.9% | 1952 | $1,746 | 23.2% | 82.6% | 10.3% |
| Southeast Los Angeles | 4.09 | 31.7 | 28.0% | 68.8% | 5.2% | 1955 | $1,627 | 8.0% | 51.4% | 8.7% |
| Leimert Park | 2.19 | 42.9 | 11.9% | 59.3% | 7.2% | 1946 | $1,814 | 33.9% | 90.7% | 9.3% |
| Central City | 3.81 | 32.7 | 26.2% | 79.7% | 5.2% | 1955 | $1,406 | 9.6% | 50.0% | 10.9% |
| Morningside Park | 2.50 | 43.7 | 13.7% | 46.0% | 8.5% | 1961 | $1,945 | 36.4% | 85.4% | 9.1% |
| Jefferson Park | 2.81 | 38.5 | 13.7% | 65.2% | 8.1% | 1946 | $1,551 | 26.6% | 75.2% | 8.9% |
| Nevin | 3.97 | 33.1 | 28.2% | 76.0% | 5.2% | 1965 | $1,511 | 7.0% | 44.4% | 11.2% |
| Windsor Hills | 2.12 | 53.5 | 11.0% | 35.3% | 10.0% | 1946 | $1,937 | 63.1% | 95.4% | 7.5% |
| Crenshaw | 2.38 | 42.5 | 12.3% | 67.1% | 10.0% | 1958 | $1,992 | 36.9% | 87.1% | 7.5% |
| Fashion District | 1.58 | 34.4 | 2.4% | 91.2% | 10.3% | 1974 | $2,290 | 52.8% | 85.7% | 10.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Windsor Village, Santa Ana, CA · Wilson Park, Milwaukee, WI · Wilson-Riverside, San Bernardino, CA · York, Bellingham, WA · Windom, Minneapolis, MN · Yerdemont, San Bernardino, CA · Yankee Hill, Milwaukee, WI · Yalecrest, Salt Lake City, UT · Wynwood, Miami, FL · Wynnefield, Philadelphia, PA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up South Los Angeles. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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