What are the schools like in South El Monte, CA?

South El Monte is served primarily by Valle Lindo Elementary. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 21.9:1.

What is the median household income in South El Monte?

The median household income in South El Monte, CA is $67,724 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.7%.

What is the weather like in South El Monte, CA?

South El Monte has an average high temperature of 68.6°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 15.7 inches.

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

Q: Is South El Monte, CA affordable or expensive?

South El Monte's cost of living index is 116, where 100 represents the national average. This means South El Monte is 16% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $570,100 and the median rent is $1,660 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in South El Monte, CA?

South El Monte has a violent crime rate of 466.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3234.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is South El Monte, CA a Good Place to Live?

South El Monte is a small city of 19,694 in California, with a median household income of $67,724 and a 6.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 116 (US average = 100), which is 16% above the national average.

Strengths: South El Monte's profile is close to national averages across most measures.

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

All South El Monte 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

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

Metric	South El Monte, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$570,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,660	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	49.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$67,724	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

South El Monte's violent crime rate is 466.6 per 100,000 residents — 23% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

466.6 /100k

Property Crime

3234.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

South El Monte is served primarily by Valle Lindo Elementary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.9:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	South El Monte, CA	National Avg
School District	Valle Lindo Elementary	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	21.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	9.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	56.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

South El Monte sees average highs of 68.6°F in January and 85.5°F in July, with 15.7 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	South El Monte, CA
Average High — January	68.6°F
Average High — July	85.5°F
Annual Precipitation	15.7"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	South El Monte, CA	National Avg
Population	19,694	—
Median Age	37.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	24.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	55.6%	18.9%
Asian	17.5%	6.3%
Under 18	22.9%	22.2%
65 and over	13.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

El Monte, CA 2 mi Rosemead, CA 2 mi South San Gabriel, CA 3 mi Rose Hills, CA 3 mi Avocado Heights, CA 3 mi

ZIP Codes in South El Monte

South El Monte, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

91733

South El Monte vs Other Cities

South El Monte, CA vs El Monte, CA South El Monte, CA vs Rosemead, CA South El Monte, CA vs South San Gabriel, CA South El Monte, CA vs Rose Hills, CA South El Monte, CA vs Avocado Heights, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is South El Monte, CA affordable or expensive?

South El Monte's cost of living index is 116, where 100 is the national average. That puts South El Monte roughly 16% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $570,100 and median rent is $1,660/month.

What is the crime rate in South El Monte, CA?

South El Monte's violent crime rate is 466.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3234.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in South El Monte?

Public schools in South El Monte are operated by Valle Lindo Elementary. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.9:1. 9.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is South El Monte, CA a good place to live?

South El Monte, CA has a population of 19,694, a median household income of $67,724, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%. 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 South El Monte?

South El Monte averages 68.6°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 15.7 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in South El Monte?

South El Monte, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 91733.

What is the population of South El Monte?

The population of South El Monte, California is 19,694 with a median age of 37.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in South El Monte?

Key numbers for living in South El Monte: cost of living index 116 (100 = US average), median home $570,100, median household income $67,724, crime index 135 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare South El Monte side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.