Population 21,494 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Carson
Household size in West Carson
| Period | West Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.87 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.79 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.89 | 3.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.63 | 3.01 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.24 | −0.13 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in West Carson average 2.63 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is smaller than in the wider Los Angeles area, where it has 3.01 people. Household size has dropped from 2.87 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 West Carson
| Period | West Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.8 | 35.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.4 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.5 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.4 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.6 | +4.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.4, West Carson is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.8, in line with the national trend.
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 West Carson
| Period | West Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.1% | 14.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 14.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.0% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −6.2 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.0% of households in West Carson, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 6.2 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 West Carson
Renters in West Carson
| Period | West Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.4% | 48.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.7% | 50.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.4% | 51.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.7% | 51.6% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in West Carson rent their homes (29.7%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 36.0% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the south. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.3 points, in line with the national trend.
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 West Carson
| Period | West Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 6.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in West Carson: just 5.5% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. The Los Angeles area as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.2 points, 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 West Carson
| Period | West Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in West Carson run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1973 against 1980. Still, homes here are newer than in the Los Angeles area overall, where the median home dates to 1969. The median year built has moved up from 1969 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the center, while the northeast 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 West Carson
| Period | West Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,363 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,336 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,388 | $1,755 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,064 | $2,279 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$701 | +$951 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in West Carson costs $2,064 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in the Los Angeles area overall ($2,279). Rent has climbed $701 a month since 2006–10, up 51%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 36.2% of the typical renter's income, 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 West Carson
Bachelor's degrees in West Carson
| Period | West Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.9% | 29.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 33.5% | 30.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.3% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.6% | 37.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.6 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in West Carson as nationally: 37.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.6 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the west.
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 West Carson
| Period | West Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.3% | 76.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.8% | 77.7% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 83.3% | 80.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.4% | 82.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in seven adults in West Carson never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.4% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Locally, though, the rate is higher than in the Los Angeles area overall (82.1%). The share with a diploma has risen 4.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 West Carson
| Period | West Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 10.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.5%, unemployment in West Carson is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the Los Angeles area as a whole (6.7%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.6 points, in line with the national trend.
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).
West Carson compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Carson | 2.63 | 45.4 | 8.0% | 29.7% | 5.5% | 1973 | $2,064 | 37.6% | 86.4% | 5.5% |
| Carson | 3.49 | 42.7 | 13.3% | 26.0% | 5.3% | 1966 | $2,228 | 29.5% | 84.7% | 7.3% |
| Harbor City | 2.93 | 38.5 | 14.8% | 49.8% | 5.1% | 1976 | $1,790 | 31.8% | 83.2% | 7.9% |
| Lomita | 2.75 | 41.4 | 10.0% | 53.3% | 8.7% | 1966 | $1,986 | 36.6% | 86.8% | 4.5% |
| Torrance | 2.71 | 42.4 | 8.5% | 47.7% | 7.7% | 1964 | $2,478 | 50.1% | 93.0% | 6.2% |
| Wilmington | 3.49 | 36.1 | 18.9% | 56.5% | 4.3% | 1965 | $1,723 | 13.4% | 63.4% | 7.0% |
| Gardena | 2.91 | 40.2 | 15.1% | 49.8% | 5.2% | 1964 | $1,887 | 28.3% | 80.1% | 6.4% |
| Rolling Hills | 2.69 | 52.8 | 3.5% | 14.6% | 8.5% | 1963 | $3,458 | 74.5% | 97.8% | 7.2% |
| Rolling Hills Estates | 2.83 | 51.4 | 3.6% | 25.5% | 9.8% | 1974 | $2,853 | 68.4% | 96.5% | 5.4% |
| Redondo Beach | 2.53 | 42.9 | 6.7% | 46.2% | 9.1% | 1971 | $2,716 | 66.4% | 96.3% | 5.5% |
| Lawndale | 3.16 | 38.7 | 11.9% | 59.1% | 6.7% | 1967 | $2,013 | 21.7% | 73.5% | 8.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Coronado, CA · Tukwila, WA · Troy, MO · Durant, OK · Del City, OK · Deerfield, IL · Davidson, NC · Darien, CT · Danville, KY · Crest Hill, IL
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 West Carson. 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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