What are the schools like in Westwood, CA?

Westwood is served primarily by Westwood Unified. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.5:1.

What is the median household income in Westwood?

The median household income in Westwood, CA is $34,960 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 18.7%.

What is the weather like in Westwood, CA?

Westwood has an average high temperature of 41.8°F in January and 86.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 109.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Westwood, CA affordable or expensive?

Westwood's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Westwood is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $151,900 and the median rent is $688 per month.

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

Westwood has a violent crime rate of 454.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1141.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Westwood, CA a Good Place to Live?

Westwood is a small town of 1,116 in California, with a median household income of $34,960 and a 18.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Westwood stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Westwood is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Westwood 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: 96.6

Westwood's overall cost of living index is 96.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Westwood costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Westwood, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$151,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$688	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$34,960	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Westwood's violent crime rate is 454.6 per 100,000 residents — 20% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

454.6 /100k

Property Crime

1141.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Westwood is served primarily by Westwood Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.5:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Westwood, CA	National Avg
School District	Westwood Unified	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	10.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	79.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Westwood sees average highs of 41.8°F in January and 86.3°F in July, with 37.1 inches of annual precipitation and 109.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Westwood, CA
Average High — January	41.8°F
Average High — July	86.3°F
Annual Precipitation	37.1"
Annual Snowfall	109.3"

Demographics

Metric	Westwood, CA	National Avg
Population	1,116	—
Median Age	47.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	18.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	15.1%	22.2%
65 and over	25.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Clear Creek, CA 3 mi Hamilton Branch, CA 5 mi East Shore, CA 6 mi Lake Almanor Peninsula, CA 7 mi Lake Almanor Country Club, CA 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Westwood

Westwood, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

96137

Westwood vs Other Cities

Westwood, CA vs Clear Creek, CA Westwood, CA vs Hamilton Branch, CA Westwood, CA vs East Shore, CA Westwood, CA vs Lake Almanor Peninsula, CA Westwood, CA vs Lake Almanor Country Club, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Westwood, CA affordable or expensive?

Westwood's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Westwood roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $151,900 and median rent is $688/month.

What is the crime rate in Westwood, CA?

Westwood's violent crime rate is 454.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1141.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Westwood?

Public schools in Westwood are operated by Westwood Unified. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.5:1. 10.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Westwood, CA a good place to live?

Westwood, CA has a population of 1,116, a median household income of $34,960, and an unemployment rate of 18.7%. 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 Westwood?

Westwood averages 41.8°F in January and 86.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.1 inches with about 109.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Westwood?

Westwood, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 96137.

What is the population of Westwood?

The population of Westwood, California is 1,116 with a median age of 47.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Westwood?

Key numbers for living in Westwood: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $151,900, median household income $34,960, crime index 94 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Westwood side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.