What are the schools like in Compton, CA?

Compton is served primarily by Compton Unified. The district operates 21 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 6 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 24.0:1.

What is the median household income in Compton?

The median household income in Compton, CA is $69,728 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.9%.

What is the weather like in Compton, CA?

Compton has an average high temperature of 67.3°F in January and 77.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 11.8 inches.

Compton, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Compton, CA affordable or expensive?

Compton's cost of living index is 116, where 100 represents the national average. This means Compton is 16% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $489,400 and the median rent is $1,464 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Compton, CA?

Compton has a violent crime rate of 1271.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3145.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Compton, CA a Good Place to Live?

Compton is a mid-sized city of 94,822 in California, with a median household income of $69,728 and a 7.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 116 (US average = 100), which is 16% above the national average.

Strengths: Compton's profile is close to national averages across most measures.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, a higher-than-average crime index, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Compton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Compton city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 115.5

Compton's overall cost of living index is 115.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Compton costs roughly 16% more than the average American city.

Metric	Compton, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$489,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,464	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$69,728	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Compton's violent crime rate is 1271.7 per 100,000 residents — 235% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

1271.7 /100k

Property Crime

3145.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Compton is served primarily by Compton Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 24.0:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Compton, CA	National Avg
School District	Compton Unified	—
Elementary Schools	21	—
Middle Schools	7	—
High Schools	6	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	24.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	10.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	63.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Compton sees average highs of 67.3°F in January and 77.2°F in July, with 11.8 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Compton, CA
Average High — January	67.3°F
Average High — July	77.2°F
Annual Precipitation	11.8"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Compton, CA	National Avg
Population	94,822	—
Median Age	33.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	30.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	18.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	25.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	53.2%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	27.9%	22.2%
65 and over	10.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

East Rancho Dominguez, CA 2 mi Willowbrook, CA 2 mi West Rancho Dominguez, CA 2 mi Lynwood, CA 3 mi Paramount, CA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Compton

Compton, CA is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

90220 90221 90222

Compton vs Other Cities

Compton, CA vs East Rancho Dominguez, CA Compton, CA vs Willowbrook, CA Compton, CA vs West Rancho Dominguez, CA Compton, CA vs Lynwood, CA Compton, CA vs Paramount, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Compton, CA affordable or expensive?

Compton's cost of living index is 116, where 100 is the national average. That puts Compton roughly 16% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $489,400 and median rent is $1,464/month.

What is the crime rate in Compton, CA?

Compton's violent crime rate is 1271.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3145.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Compton?

Public schools in Compton are operated by Compton Unified. The district has 21 elementary, 7 middle, and 6 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 24.0:1. 10.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Compton, CA a good place to live?

Compton, CA has a population of 94,822, a median household income of $69,728, and an unemployment rate of 7.9%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Compton?

Compton averages 67.3°F in January and 77.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 11.8 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Compton?

Compton, CA is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 90220, 90221, 90222.

What is the population of Compton?

The population of Compton, California is 94,822 with a median age of 33.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Compton?

Key numbers for living in Compton: cost of living index 116 (100 = US average), median home $489,400, median household income $69,728, crime index 261 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Compton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.