About
Life in Santa Fe Springs
This gateway city in southeast Los Angeles County is fundamentally an industrial and manufacturing hub—dominated by aerospace, defense, and light manufacturing facilities rather than tourism or retail. If you're considering the move, know that you're choosing a working-class to solidly middle-class community with a median household income around $87,000 and a strong Latino community (about 81% of residents) that shapes the character and culture of daily life. Housing isn't cheap at a median home value of $660,000, though rents hover around $2,033 monthly, so you'll need to evaluate whether buying or renting makes sense for your situation.
Santa Fe Springs at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.0%
Foreign-Born
24.3%
Broadband Internet
94.9%
of households
Population Growth
-2.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics24.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Santa Fe Springs: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Santa Fe Springs, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (55.3%), and 46.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.4%
of residents
65 and Older
17.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
20.2%
of households
Married Couples
47.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.24
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 about average for CA
Rent, home values, and income in Santa Fe Springs
In Santa Fe Springs, home values are 10% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,523
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1960
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $777,014 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in Santa Fe Springs and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Los Angeles County, which includes Santa Fe Springs, is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Santa Fe Springs: Los Angeles County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Los Angeles County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Santa Fe Springs is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Santa Fe Springs 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
Commute33.5 min avg
How Santa Fe Springs residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Santa Fe Springs, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 46% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Long Beach International Airport (LGB)
Small hub1.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 19 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 191% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Santa Fe Springs runs 191% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
958.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
5,848.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Santa Fe Springs 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 Santa Fe Springs, 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.
170 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Santa Fe Springs 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 Santa Fe Springs, 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
Santa Fe Springs is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 47°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Santa Fe Springs has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and warm winters (avg low 47°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
74°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
80°/58°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
69°/47°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
15.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
39
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 | 69°F | 46°F | 2.85" |
| Feb | 69°F | 48°F | 3.02" |
| Mar | 71°F | 52°F | 1.74" |
| Apr | 74°F | 54°F | 0.59" |
| May | 76°F | 58°F | 0.30" |
| Jun | 79°F | 63°F | 0.08" |
| Jul | 84°F | 66°F | 0.02" |
| Aug | 87°F | 66°F | 0.02" |
| Sep | 85°F | 65°F | 0.14" |
| Oct | 80°F | 58°F | 0.50" |
| Nov | 74°F | 51°F | 0.74" |
| Dec | 68°F | 46°F | 1.86" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Santa Fe Springs
Uninsured
5.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Santa Fe Springs's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Coast Plaza Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.5 mi away · Norwalk
Pih Health Hospital-whittier
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.7 mi away · Whittier
Whittier Hospital Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.6 mi away · Whittier
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.
Education22.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Santa Fe Springs
Santa Fe Springs's student/teacher ratio is 22.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 23.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Santa Fe Springs (within 15 miles)
California State University-Fullerton
10.8 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
10.8 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)
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
14.1 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
11.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 19,562 students · in-state tuition $7,530 · 69% graduate · median earnings $62,555 (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, 42 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Santa Fe Springs
Santa Fe Springs has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (42 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
42 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
48 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
94 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Santa Fe Springs
Santa Fe Springs City Library
11700 E. Telegraph Rd., Santa Fe Springs
William C. Gordon Learning Center
9255 Pioneer Blvd, Santa Fe Springs
Cities Near Santa Fe Springs
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Santa Fe Springs?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Santa Fe Springs FAQ
Is Santa Fe Springs, California affordable?⌄
Santa Fe Springs's median rent is $2,033/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $88,238/year. Median home value is $659,900.
Is Santa Fe Springs, California safe?⌄
Santa Fe Springs's violent crime rate was 959 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 5849 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Santa Fe Springs, California?⌄
Los Angeles County, which includes Santa Fe Springs, has an unemployment rate of 5.7%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Santa Fe Springs, California?⌄
The cost of living in Santa Fe Springs is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,033/month and median household income is $88,238/year. The median home value is $659,900. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Santa Fe Springs, California?⌄
The average commute in Santa Fe Springs is 34 minutes, which is longer than 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