The Los Angeles metro area: Los Angeles and Orange counties · Population 12,974,487 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Los Angeles area
Household size in the Los Angeles area
| Period | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.01 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in the Los Angeles area are large by national standards, averaging 3.01 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 3.14, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only nine have larger households.
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 the Los Angeles area
| Period | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in the Los Angeles area are younger than 39.5 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 35.6 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 the Los Angeles area
| Period | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in the Los Angeles area (12.3%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.0 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 the Los Angeles area
Renters in the Los Angeles area
| Period | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 50.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 51.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 51.6% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in the Los Angeles area rent: 51.6% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.8 points, as it has nationally. The Los Angeles area has the highest share of renters of any large metro area.
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 the Los Angeles area
| Period | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in the Los Angeles area: 6.7% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. California comes in at about the same level. The Los Angeles area has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of large metro areas.
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 the Los Angeles area
| Period | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The Los Angeles area is a place of older homes: half were built before 1969, 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 1965 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the center.
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 the Los Angeles area
| Period | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,755 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,279 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$951 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in the Los Angeles area pays $2,279 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $951 a month from 2006–10, a 72% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 35.2% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the southeast and lowest in the center.
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 the Los Angeles area
Bachelor's degrees in the Los Angeles area
| Period | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly four in ten adults 25 and older in the Los Angeles area (37.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 7.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the center.
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 the Los Angeles area
| Period | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 76.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 77.7% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 80.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 82.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in six adults in the Los Angeles area never finished high school, well above the national share: only 82.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.4 points, in line with the national trend. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only five have a lower share of high school graduates.
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 the Los Angeles area
| Period | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in the Los Angeles area: 6.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 1.7 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).
Largest cities in the Los Angeles area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles area (all) | 3.01 | 39.5 | 12.3% | 51.6% | 6.7% | 1969 | $2,279 | 37.6% | 82.1% | 6.7% |
| Long Beach | 2.78 | 38.3 | 14.4% | 58.7% | 6.4% | 1960 | $2,041 | 34.5% | 81.8% | 6.7% |
| Anaheim | 3.33 | 37.5 | 13.8% | 53.2% | 6.2% | 1973 | $2,377 | 30.2% | 77.9% | 5.7% |
| Irvine | 2.84 | 35.3 | 9.0% | 56.1% | 9.6% | 2001 | $2,979 | 71.6% | 96.9% | 5.5% |
| Santa Ana | 4.01 | 35.2 | 15.6% | 55.1% | 4.3% | 1967 | $2,154 | 17.4% | 66.4% | 4.8% |
| Huntington Beach | 2.57 | 44.3 | 8.2% | 44.4% | 6.2% | 1976 | $2,736 | 48.6% | 93.6% | 5.3% |
| Lancaster | 3.24 | 35.1 | 16.2% | 39.4% | 6.3% | 1985 | $1,916 | 19.5% | 81.6% | 7.9% |
| Palmdale | 3.61 | 34.1 | 19.0% | 34.2% | 5.2% | 1989 | $2,020 | 17.2% | 77.2% | 8.5% |
| Glendale | 2.62 | 42.5 | 7.6% | 68.0% | 7.3% | 1968 | $2,352 | 46.5% | 89.4% | 8.2% |
| North Hollywood | 2.80 | 37.7 | 11.9% | 70.3% | 7.1% | 1967 | $1,933 | 31.2% | 79.1% | 8.6% |
| Garden Grove | 3.54 | 40.8 | 12.8% | 46.9% | 4.3% | 1966 | $2,275 | 25.3% | 74.2% | 5.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Philadelphia area · Washington area · Houston area · Dallas area · Chicago area · New York area
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 the Los Angeles area. 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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