About
Life in Pico Rivera
This is a solidly middle-class, family-oriented community where most people own their homes and know their neighbors over the long term. The median home value sits around $649,000 and median household income is nearly $87,000, making it accessible compared to much of LA County, though housing is still expensive by national standards. The community is predominantly Latino with strong cultural roots, particularly Mexican heritage, which shapes neighborhood character, local businesses, and schools.
Pico Rivera at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.3%
Foreign-Born
30.2%
Broadband Internet
91.2%
of households
Population Growth
-5.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics30.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Pico Rivera: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Pico Rivera, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (71.7%), and 62.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.8%
of residents
65 and Older
18.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
14.8%
of households
Married Couples
52.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.55
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 Pico Rivera
In Pico Rivera, rent runs 12% below the CA average, and home values are 12% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
58.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,278
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $746,546 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in Pico Rivera and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Pico Rivera 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 Pico Rivera 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
Commute30.3 min avg
How Pico Rivera residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Pico Rivera, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 50% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Long Beach International Airport (LGB)
Small hub1.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 18 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 46% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Pico Rivera runs 46% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
480
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,122.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Pico Rivera 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 Pico Rivera, 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.
171 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Pico Rivera 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 Pico Rivera, 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
Pico Rivera is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate85°F summers, 46°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Pico Rivera has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and warm winters (avg low 46°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
73°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
80°/57°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
68°/46°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
15.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
64
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
28
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 69°F | 46°F | 3.56" |
| Feb | 68°F | 47°F | 4.22" |
| Mar | 71°F | 51°F | 2.53" |
| Apr | 74°F | 53°F | 0.61" |
| May | 76°F | 58°F | 0.48" |
| Jun | 81°F | 62°F | 0.13" |
| Jul | 86°F | 65°F | 0.04" |
| Aug | 88°F | 66°F | 0.00" |
| Sep | 87°F | 64°F | 0.13" |
| Oct | 81°F | 57°F | 0.61" |
| Nov | 74°F | 51°F | 0.92" |
| Dec | 68°F | 45°F | 2.44" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Pico Rivera
Uninsured
8.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Pico Rivera's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.9 mi away · Montebello
Pih Health Hospital-whittier
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.6 mi away · Whittier
Pih Health Downey Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.5 mi away · Downey
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.
Education23.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Pico Rivera
Pico Rivera's student/teacher ratio is 23.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 16.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
16.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Pico Rivera (within 15 miles)
California State University-Fullerton
13.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 38,546 students · in-state tuition $7,952 · 80% graduate · median earnings $69,015 (10 yrs after entry)
California State University-Long Beach
14.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 35,924 students · in-state tuition $8,338 · 81% graduate · median earnings $69,554 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 26,140 students · in-state tuition $1,364 · 35% graduate · median earnings $49,600 (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
11.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 20,443 students · in-state tuition $75,162 · 93% graduate · median earnings $103,420 (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, 40 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Pico Rivera
Pico Rivera has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (40 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
40 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
50 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
90 mi awayPublic Libraries in Pico Rivera
Pico Rivera Library
9001 Mines Ave., Pico Rivera
Rivera Library
7828 S. Serapis Ave., Pico Rivera
Cities Near Pico Rivera
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Pico Rivera?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Pico Rivera FAQ
Is Pico Rivera, California affordable?⌄
Pico Rivera's median rent is $1,786/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $88,201/year. Median home value is $648,600.
Is Pico Rivera, California safe?⌄
Pico Rivera's violent crime rate was 480 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2123 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Pico Rivera, California?⌄
Pico Rivera has an unemployment rate of 5.7%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Pico Rivera, California?⌄
The cost of living in Pico Rivera is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,786/month and median household income is $88,201/year. The median home value is $648,600. About 59% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Pico Rivera, California?⌄
The average commute in Pico Rivera 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