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Living in
Hawthorne.
About
Life in Hawthorne
If you're considering Hawthorne, understand that you're moving to a dense, car-dependent part of the greater Los Angeles metro with serious freeway proximity—I-105 and I-405 bracket the city, which means traffic noise and air quality concerns come with the territory. Housing is expensive by most measures—$863,000 median home price, $1,782 median rent—but the median household income of $75,848 means many residents are stretching to afford it; nearly three-quarters of housing units are rentals, so homeownership is a minority experience. The community is vibrant and Latino-majority with substantial African American and Asian populations, lots of families with young kids, and a median age around 35.
Hawthorne at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.5%
Foreign-Born
32.1%
Broadband Internet
93.6%
of households
Population Growth
-6.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics32.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Hawthorne: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hawthorne, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (43.2%), and 44.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.7%
of residents
65 and Older
10.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.6%
of households
Married Couples
35.4%
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 12% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Hawthorne
In Hawthorne, rent runs 12% below the CA average, and home values are 18% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
57.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,975
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
27.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1970
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $863,012 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in Hawthorne and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Hawthorne 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 Hawthorne 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
Commute28.3 min avg
How Hawthorne residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hawthorne, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 59% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 1 mi
Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport (HHR)
Regional airport · few flights6,315 passengers boarded in 2025
- 4 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 73% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Hawthorne runs 73% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
571.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,892.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Hawthorne 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 Hawthorne, 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.
118 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Hawthorne 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 Hawthorne, 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
Hawthorne 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
Hawthorne 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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hawthorne
Uninsured
10.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Hawthorne's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Centinela Hospital Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 2.4 mi away · Inglewood
Memorial Hospital of Gardena
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.4 mi away · Gardena
Providence Little Company of Mary Med Ctr Torrance
Acute Care Hospitals · 5.3 mi away · Torrance
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.
Education25.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hawthorne
Hawthorne's student/teacher ratio is 25.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 26.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
20
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
25.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Hawthorne (within 15 miles)
University of California-Los Angeles
12.1 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
8.2 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
14.7 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
6.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 12,538 students · in-state tuition $7,853 · 68% graduate · median earnings $62,587 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 11,198 students · in-state tuition $1,238 · 20% graduate · median earnings $42,194 (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, 27 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hawthorne
Hawthorne has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (27 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
27 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
64 mi awayChannel Islands National Park
National Park
90 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
92 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hawthorne
Hawthorne Library
12700 Grevillea Ave., Hawthorne
Wiseburn Library
5335 West 135th St., Hawthorne
Cities Near Hawthorne
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hawthorne?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hawthorne FAQ
Is Hawthorne, California affordable?⌄
Hawthorne's median rent is $1,782/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $75,848/year. Median home value is $863,400.
Is Hawthorne, California safe?⌄
Hawthorne's violent crime rate was 571 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1893 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hawthorne, California?⌄
Hawthorne has an unemployment rate of 5.6%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hawthorne, California?⌄
The cost of living in Hawthorne is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,782/month and median household income is $75,848/year. The median home value is $863,400. About 58% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hawthorne, California?⌄
The average commute in Hawthorne is 28 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