What are the schools like in Lakewood, CA?

Lakewood is served primarily by Long Beach Unified. The district operates 53 elementary schools, 15 middle schools, and 13 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 23.7:1.

What is the median household income in Lakewood?

The median household income in Lakewood, CA is $113,030 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.7%.

What is the weather like in Lakewood, CA?

Lakewood has an average high temperature of 67.4°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 12.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Lakewood, CA affordable or expensive?

Lakewood's cost of living index is 116, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lakewood is 16% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $695,200 and the median rent is $2,233 per month.

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

Lakewood has a violent crime rate of 453.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2585.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lakewood, CA a Good Place to Live?

Lakewood is a mid-sized city of 81,499 in California, with a median household income of $113,030 and a 5.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 116 (US average = 100), which is 16% above the national average.

Strengths: Lakewood stands out for solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lakewood is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lakewood 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

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

Metric	Lakewood, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$695,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,233	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$113,030	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Lakewood's violent crime rate is 453.0 per 100,000 residents — 19% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

453.0 /100k

Property Crime

2585.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Lakewood is served primarily by Long Beach Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23.7:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lakewood, CA	National Avg
School District	Long Beach Unified	—
Elementary Schools	53	—
Middle Schools	15	—
High Schools	13	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	23.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	32.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lakewood sees average highs of 67.4°F in January and 81.4°F in July, with 12.0 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Lakewood, CA
Average High — January	67.4°F
Average High — July	81.4°F
Annual Precipitation	12.0"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Lakewood, CA	National Avg
Population	81,499	—
Median Age	38.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	29.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	41.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	8.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	24.3%	18.9%
Asian	18.8%	6.3%
Under 18	20.5%	22.2%
65 and over	14.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Artesia, CA 3 mi Bellflower, CA 3 mi Hawaiian Gardens, CA 3 mi Cerritos, CA 3 mi Signal Hill, CA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Lakewood

Lakewood, CA is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

90712 90713 90715

Lakewood vs Other Cities

Lakewood, CA vs Artesia, CA Lakewood, CA vs Bellflower, CA Lakewood, CA vs Hawaiian Gardens, CA Lakewood, CA vs Cerritos, CA Lakewood, CA vs Signal Hill, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lakewood, CA affordable or expensive?

Lakewood's cost of living index is 116, where 100 is the national average. That puts Lakewood roughly 16% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $695,200 and median rent is $2,233/month.

What is the crime rate in Lakewood, CA?

Lakewood's violent crime rate is 453.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2585.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Lakewood?

Public schools in Lakewood are operated by Long Beach Unified. The district has 53 elementary, 15 middle, and 13 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23.7:1. 32.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lakewood, CA a good place to live?

Lakewood, CA has a population of 81,499, a median household income of $113,030, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%. 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 Lakewood?

Lakewood averages 67.4°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 12.0 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lakewood?

Lakewood, CA is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 90712, 90713, 90715.

What is the population of Lakewood?

The population of Lakewood, California is 81,499 with a median age of 38.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Lakewood?

Key numbers for living in Lakewood: cost of living index 116 (100 = US average), median home $695,200, median household income $113,030, crime index 121 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lakewood side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.