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Living in
Bell.
About
Life in Bell
If you're considering Bell, understand you're looking at an intensely urban, family-oriented working-class neighborhood where 72% of people rent and median household income sits at about $60,600. The median home value around $591,600 and median rent of $1,575 per month reflect the premium on Los Angeles County real estate, though Bell tends to be more affordable than surrounding areas. This is fundamentally a Latino community with deep roots—nearly 94% of residents are Hispanic or Latino, creating a cohesive cultural identity with established family networks and neighborhood institutions.
Bell at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
21.6%
Foreign-Born
42.4%
Broadband Internet
89.2%
of households
Population Growth
-5.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics42.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Bell: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bell, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (69.3%), and 82.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.3%
of residents
65 and Older
11.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
43.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
15.3%
of households
Married Couples
40.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.49
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 23% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Bell
In Bell, rent runs 23% below the CA average, and home values are 19% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
62.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
36.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,770
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
26.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1956
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $689,657 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in Bell and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Bell is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Bell Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area
Commute30 min avg
How Bell residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bell, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 47% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport (HHR)
Regional airport · few flights6,315 passengers boarded in 2025
- 13 mi
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Major hub36.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 42% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Bell runs 42% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
468.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
934.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Bell Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 21 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
100.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Los Angeles County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Los Angeles County, which includes Bell, the most common type is high wind, with 21 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | High Wind | $3,000 |
| 2024 | 27 | High Wind | $5,000 |
| 2023 | 21 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 7 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 5 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 4 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 2 | Wildfire | None reported |
| 2018 | 3 | Debris Flow | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
164 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Bell is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality74 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Los Angeles County, which includes Bell, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
74
Good Days
39
per year
Moderate Days
228
per year
Unhealthy Days
32
per year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Bell is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 49°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bell has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and warm winters (avg low 49°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
78°/59°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
68°/49°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
15.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
25
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
28
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68°F | 49°F | 3.29" |
| Feb | 68°F | 50°F | 3.64" |
| Mar | 70°F | 52°F | 2.23" |
| Apr | 72°F | 55°F | 0.69" |
| May | 74°F | 58°F | 0.32" |
| Jun | 77°F | 61°F | 0.09" |
| Jul | 82°F | 65°F | 0.02" |
| Aug | 84°F | 65°F | 0.00" |
| Sep | 83°F | 64°F | 0.13" |
| Oct | 79°F | 60°F | 0.58" |
| Nov | 73°F | 53°F | 0.78" |
| Dec | 67°F | 48°F | 2.48" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bell
Uninsured
13.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Bell's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Community Hospital of Huntington Park
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.6 mi away · Huntington Park
Los Angeles Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.7 mi away · Los Angeles
East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3 mi away · Los Angeles
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education20.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bell
Bell's student/teacher ratio is 20.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 9.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
9.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Bell (within 15 miles)
California State University-Long Beach
14.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 35,924 students · in-state tuition $8,338 · 81% graduate · median earnings $69,554 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 22,688 students · in-state tuition $1,400 · 35% graduate
Public · 2-year · 21,466 students · in-state tuition $1,180 · 33% graduate · median earnings $47,494 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Southern California
6.6 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 20,443 students · in-state tuition $75,162 · 93% graduate · median earnings $103,420 (10 yrs after entry)
California State University-Los Angeles
6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 19,562 students · in-state tuition $7,530 · 69% graduate · median earnings $62,555 (10 yrs after entry)
California State University-Dominguez Hills
9.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 12,538 students · in-state tuition $7,853 · 68% graduate · median earnings $62,587 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, 35 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bell
Bell has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (35 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
35 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
55 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
89 mi awayChannel Islands National Park
National Park
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bell
Bell Library
4411 East Gage Ave., Bell
Cities Near Bell
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bell?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bell FAQ
Is Bell, California affordable?⌄
Bell's median rent is $1,575/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $61,020/year. Median home value is $591,600.
Is Bell, California safe?⌄
Bell's violent crime rate was 469 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 935 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bell, California?⌄
Bell has an unemployment rate of 5.6%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bell, California?⌄
The cost of living in Bell is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,575/month and median household income is $61,020/year. The median home value is $591,600. About 62% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bell, California?⌄
The average commute in Bell is 30 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from