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Living in
Signal Hill.
About
Life in Signal Hill
Signal Hill is a community of 11,563 people in California. The median household income is $113,298, median rent runs about $1,851 per month, and median home values are around $783,300. The unemployment rate is 5.8%.
Signal Hill at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.1%
Foreign-Born
27.4%
Broadband Internet
92.0%
of households
Population Growth
-5.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics27.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Signal Hill: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Signal Hill, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (32.2%), and 25.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.1%
of residents
65 and Older
12.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.5%
of households
Married Couples
43.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.51
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 9% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Signal Hill
In Signal Hill, rent runs 9% below the CA average, and home values are 7% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
11.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,954
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
50.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1980
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $700,178 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in Signal Hill and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Los Angeles County, which includes Signal Hill, is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Signal Hill: Los Angeles County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Los Angeles County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Signal Hill is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Signal Hill 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
Commute31 min avg
How Signal Hill residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Signal Hill, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 51% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 1 mi
Long Beach International Airport (LGB)
Small hub1.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 17 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 66% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Signal Hill runs 66% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
547.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
5,085.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Signal Hill 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 Signal Hill, 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.
115 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Signal Hill 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 Signal Hill, 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
Signal Hill is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate80°F summers, 47°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Signal Hill has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and warm winters (avg low 47°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
71°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
78°/58°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
67°/47°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
12.0"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
23
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
35
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67°F | 47°F | 2.89" |
| Feb | 67°F | 48°F | 3.02" |
| Mar | 69°F | 51°F | 1.65" |
| Apr | 71°F | 54°F | 0.56" |
| May | 73°F | 58°F | 0.26" |
| Jun | 76°F | 61°F | 0.07" |
| Jul | 81°F | 65°F | 0.05" |
| Aug | 83°F | 66°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 82°F | 64°F | 0.08" |
| Oct | 78°F | 59°F | 0.53" |
| Nov | 73°F | 52°F | 0.75" |
| Dec | 67°F | 47°F | 2.15" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Signal Hill
Uninsured
5.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Signal Hill's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Ocean View Psychiatric Health Facility
Psychiatric · 1 mi away · Long Beach
Memorialcare Long Beach Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 1 mi away · Long Beach
Memorial Care Miller Children's & Women's Hosp Lb
Childrens · 1.2 mi away · Long Beach
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.
Education24.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Signal Hill
Signal Hill's student/teacher ratio is 24.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 37.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
37.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
24.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Signal Hill
American University of Health Sciences
Private for-profit · 4-year · 351 students · in-state tuition $24,800 · 78% graduate · median earnings $113,922 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
California State University-Long Beach
3.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 35,924 students · in-state tuition $8,338 · 81% graduate · median earnings $69,554 (10 yrs after entry)
California State University-Dominguez Hills
6.6 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 · 9,034 students · in-state tuition $1,202 · 29% graduate · median earnings $50,592 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,393 students · in-state tuition $1,186 · 18% graduate · median earnings $51,338 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 6,694 students · in-state tuition $1,238 · 23% graduate · median earnings $47,368 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,474 students · in-state tuition $50,904 · 69% graduate · median earnings $64,126 (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 Signal Hill
Signal Hill 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
54 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Signal Hill
Signal Hill Public Library
1800 East Hill Street, Signal Hill
Cities Near Signal Hill
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Signal Hill?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Signal Hill FAQ
Is Signal Hill, California affordable?⌄
Signal Hill's median rent is $1,851/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $113,298/year. Median home value is $783,300.
Is Signal Hill, California safe?⌄
Signal Hill's violent crime rate was 547 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 5086 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Signal Hill, California?⌄
Los Angeles County, which includes Signal Hill, has an unemployment rate of 5.7%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Signal Hill, California?⌄
The cost of living in Signal Hill is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,851/month and median household income is $113,298/year. The median home value is $783,300. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Signal Hill, California?⌄
The average commute in Signal Hill is 31 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