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Living in
Gardena.
About
Life in Gardena
Gardena is a tightly knit, multicultural South Bay community where you'll find strong Japanese and Korean business infrastructure alongside a significant Latino population—40% of residents are Latino, and the city has deep historical roots in Japanese American culture dating back over a century. The median household income sits around $85,000, which is solid for the Los Angeles area, though you'll want to know that a median home costs $701,000 and rent averages $1,809 monthly, so affordability is tight like most of LA County. The job market is reasonable with 5.5% unemployment, but your commute will likely run 28-30 minutes depending on where you work.
Gardena at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.8%
Foreign-Born
37.1%
Broadband Internet
93.7%
of households
Population Growth
-4.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics37.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Gardena: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Gardena, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (28.4%), and 33.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.6%
of residents
65 and Older
16.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.4%
of households
Married Couples
42.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.81
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 11% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Gardena
In Gardena, rent runs 11% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,431
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
48.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1964
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $780,233 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in Gardena and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Gardena 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 Gardena 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
Commute29.3 min avg
How Gardena residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Gardena, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport (HHR)
Regional airport · few flights6,315 passengers boarded in 2025
- 8 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 87% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Gardena runs 87% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
615.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,010.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Gardena 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 Gardena, 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.
117 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Gardena 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 Gardena, 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
Gardena is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate76°F summers, 50°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Gardena has mild summers (avg high 76°F) and warm winters (avg low 50°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
76°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
75°/59°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
67°/50°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
11.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
38
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67°F | 49°F | 2.67" |
| Feb | 67°F | 51°F | 2.96" |
| Mar | 68°F | 53°F | 1.67" |
| Apr | 70°F | 55°F | 0.60" |
| May | 71°F | 58°F | 0.29" |
| Jun | 73°F | 62°F | 0.00" |
| Jul | 77°F | 65°F | 0.02" |
| Aug | 79°F | 65°F | 0.00" |
| Sep | 79°F | 65°F | 0.17" |
| Oct | 76°F | 60°F | 0.48" |
| Nov | 72°F | 54°F | 0.72" |
| Dec | 66°F | 49°F | 2.19" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 1.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Gardena
Gardena has 1 hospital, averaging 1.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
1.0 / 5
Memorial Hospital of Gardena
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Los Angeles
Lac/harbor-ucla Med Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.4 mi away · Torrance
Centinela Hospital Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 4.5 mi away · Inglewood
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.
Education18.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Gardena
Gardena's student/teacher ratio is 18.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 28.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Gardena (within 15 miles)
California State University-Long Beach
13.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 35,924 students · in-state tuition $8,338 · 81% graduate · median earnings $69,554 (10 yrs after entry)
University of California-Los Angeles
14.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 33,475 students · in-state tuition $15,729 · 94% graduate · median earnings $88,581 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 21,440 students · in-state tuition $1,158 · 28% graduate · median earnings $46,589 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Southern California
8.9 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
14.3 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
3.6 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, 30 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Gardena
Gardena has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (30 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
30 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
62 mi awayChannel Islands National Park
National Park
92 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
93 mi awayPublic Libraries in Gardena
Gardena Mayme Dear Library
1731 West Gardena Blvd., Gardena
Cities Near Gardena
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Gardena?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Gardena FAQ
Is Gardena, California affordable?⌄
Gardena's median rent is $1,809/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $84,803/year. Median home value is $700,600.
Is Gardena, California safe?⌄
Gardena's violent crime rate was 616 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3011 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Gardena, California?⌄
Gardena has an unemployment rate of 5.5%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Gardena, California?⌄
The cost of living in Gardena is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,809/month and median household income is $84,803/year. The median home value is $700,600. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Gardena, California?⌄
The average commute in Gardena is 29 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