Los Angeles, California
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Los Angeles.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles planning snapshot: population 3,878,704, housing index 215 (well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $879,500, median rent $1,879, and income near $80,366. Expect 81°F summer highs, 49°F winter lows, and about 31-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 732.2 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 215U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $879,500U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,879U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $80,366U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 5.2%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 31 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 732.2per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 81°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Los Angeles compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 3,878,704City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $80,366Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg ($78,538)U.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 215ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year115% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $879,500City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year190% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,879City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year39% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 5.2%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 31 min24% above U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 6953% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 732.2annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)25% above U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 2383.3annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)23% below U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 81°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals6.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 49°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals15.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 14.3 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals57% below U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 331As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals24% above U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Los Angeles grew 2.2% from 3,795,512 in 2010 to 3,878,704 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Los Angeles expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Los Angeles's housing cost index is 215 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($879,500 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,879 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 215 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $879,500 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,879 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Los Angeles?
Typical ownership costs center near $879,500, while median gross rent is about $1,879 a month. Against a median household income of $80,366, rent alone is roughly 28% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $879,500
- Median rent $1,879/month
- Median household income $80,366
What is the job market like in Los Angeles?
County unemployment recently ran 5.2% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Los Angeles is about $80,366 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 5.2% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $80,366
How long is the typical commute in Los Angeles?
Average one-way commute time is about 31 minutes, with Walk Score near 69/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 31 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 69/100
Is Los Angeles safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 732.2 per 100k and property about 2383.3 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 732.2 per 100k
- Property 2383.3 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Los Angeles?
Normals show summer highs near 81°F, winter lows near 49°F, about 14.3 inches of rain, and roughly 331 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 81°F
- Winter low 49°F
- 14.3 in rain · 331 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in Los Angeles?
Newcomers often start with Hollywood, Downtown, Santa Monica — tour at commute hour before signing. Neighborhood lists are curated research starting points, not rankings.
- Hollywood
- Downtown
- Santa Monica
What nearby city comparisons involve Los Angeles?
These curated pair pages put Los Angeles beside another high-intent destination with the same proprietary metrics table.
Pacific weather, wildfire seasons, and housing scarcity dominate relocation tradeoffs. Roughly 331 sunny days a year give outdoor routines unusual calendar reliability. Average one-way commute time is about 31 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 69/100. Labor-market readings near 5.2% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates near 732.2 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Los Angeles (pop. 3,878,704) sits in California. With median income around $80,366 and a cost index of 215, the market reads well above the national housing-cost baseline. Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $879,500 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Newcomers often start housing searches in Hollywood and Downtown, then compare against Santa Monica once a commute target is clear. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Los Angeles with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Hollywood
- Downtown
- Santa Monica
- Silver Lake
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Los Angeles city, 1600000US0644000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Los Angeles County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00093134 LOS ANGELES DWTN USC CAMPUS) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10