Is Downey, CA a Good Place to Live?
Downey is a mid-sized city of 113,052 in California, with a median household income of $84,236 and a 5.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 116 (US average = 100), which is 16% above the national average.
Strengths: Downey's profile is close to national averages across most measures.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Downey is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Downey 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: 115.5Downey's overall cost of living index is 115.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Downey costs roughly 16% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Downey, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $679,000 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $84,236 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageDowney's violent crime rate is 460.5 per 100,000 residents — 21% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Downey is served primarily by Downey Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23.7:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Downey, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Downey Unified | — |
| Elementary Schools | 13 | — |
| Middle Schools | 4 | — |
| High Schools | 4 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 23.7:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 80.2% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Downey sees average highs of 67.4°F in January and 81.4°F in July, with 15.2 inches of annual precipitation .
| Metric | Downey, CA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 67.4°F |
| Average High — July | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | Trace / None |
Demographics
| Metric | Downey, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 113,052 | — |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 31.3 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 37.0% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 3.8% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 48.7% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 7.2% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 13.2% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Downey
Downey, CA is covered by 3 ZIP codes: