.jpg)
Is West Carson, CA a Good Place to Live?
West Carson is a small city of 22,240 in California, with a median household income of $91,495 and a 5.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 116 (US average = 100), which is 16% above the national average.
Strengths: West Carson 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 West Carson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All West Carson 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: 115.5West Carson's overall cost of living index is 115.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in West Carson costs roughly 16% more than the average American city.
| Metric | West Carson, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $580,500 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,833 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.4% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $91,495 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageWest Carson's violent crime rate is 558.4 per 100,000 residents — 47% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
West Carson is served primarily by Los Angeles Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.2:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | West Carson, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Los Angeles Unified | — |
| Elementary Schools | 506 | — |
| Middle Schools | 83 | — |
| High Schools | 175 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 19.2:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.0% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 86.0% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
West Carson sees average highs of 66.8°F in January and 76.9°F in July, with 13.6 inches of annual precipitation .
| Metric | West Carson, CA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 66.8°F |
| Average High — July | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | Trace / None |
Demographics
| Metric | West Carson, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,240 | — |
| Median Age | 45.8 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 26.8 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 22.1% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 10.3% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 22.7% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 38.7% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 24.6% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in West Carson
West Carson, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: