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Living in
Sierra Madre.
About
Life in Sierra Madre
Sierra Madre is a community of 11,020 people in California. The median household income is $143,547, median rent runs about $2,198 per month, and median home values are around $1,226,800. The unemployment rate is 5.8%.
Sierra Madre at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.6%
Foreign-Born
17.7%
Broadband Internet
95.7%
of households
Population Growth
-5.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics17.7% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Sierra Madre: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sierra Madre, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (19.3%), and 7.5% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
18.8%
of residents
65 and Older
20.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.1%
of households
Married Couples
46.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.34
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 8% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Sierra Madre
In Sierra Madre, rent runs 8% above the CA average, and home values are 67% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
40.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$8,344
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1959
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,386,019 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in Sierra Madre and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Los Angeles County, which includes Sierra Madre, is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Sierra Madre: Los Angeles County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Los Angeles County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Sierra Madre is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Sierra Madre 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
Commute27.9 min avg
How Sierra Madre residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sierra Madre, most residents drive alone to work (65%), and 61% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR)
Medium hub3.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 25 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 34% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Sierra Madre runs 34% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
215.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
731.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Sierra Madre 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 Sierra Madre, 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.
172 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Sierra Madre 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 Sierra Madre, 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
Sierra Madre is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate88°F summers, 45°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sierra Madre has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and warm winters (avg low 45°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/51°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
83°/56°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
68°/45°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
19.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
74
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
34
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68°F | 46°F | 4.51" |
| Feb | 69°F | 46°F | 5.16" |
| Mar | 73°F | 48°F | 3.03" |
| Apr | 76°F | 51°F | 1.11" |
| May | 78°F | 54°F | 0.48" |
| Jun | 84°F | 58°F | 0.21" |
| Jul | 89°F | 62°F | 0.06" |
| Aug | 91°F | 63°F | 0.03" |
| Sep | 90°F | 62°F | 0.22" |
| Oct | 83°F | 56°F | 0.84" |
| Nov | 75°F | 50°F | 1.10" |
| Dec | 67°F | 45°F | 3.33" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sierra Madre
Uninsured
3.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Sierra Madre's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Usc Arcadia Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.3 mi away · Arcadia
Aurora Las Encinas
Psychiatric · 2.9 mi away · Pasadena
San Gabriel Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.6 mi away · San Gabriel
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.
Education25.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Sierra Madre
Sierra Madre's student/teacher ratio is 25.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 64.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
64.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
25.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Sierra Madre (within 15 miles)
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)
California State University-Los Angeles
9.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 19,562 students · in-state tuition $7,530 · 69% graduate · median earnings $62,555 (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)
Public · 2-year · 10,509 students · in-state tuition $1,195 · 28% graduate · median earnings $46,476 (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, 41 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sierra Madre
Sierra Madre has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (41 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
41 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
51 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
79 mi awayPublic Libraries in Sierra Madre
Sierra Madre Public Library
440 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre
Cities Near Sierra Madre
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Sierra Madre?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Sierra Madre FAQ
Is Sierra Madre, California affordable?⌄
Sierra Madre's median rent is $2,198/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $143,547/year. Median home value is $1,226,800.
Is Sierra Madre, California safe?⌄
Sierra Madre's violent crime rate was 216 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 732 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Sierra Madre, California?⌄
Los Angeles County, which includes Sierra Madre, has an unemployment rate of 5.7%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Sierra Madre, California?⌄
The cost of living in Sierra Madre is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,198/month and median household income is $143,547/year. The median home value is $1,226,800. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sierra Madre, California?⌄
The average commute in Sierra Madre 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