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Living in
South El Monte.
About
Life in South El Monte
This tight-knit San Gabriel Valley community of about 19,400 people offers the kind of affordability that's increasingly rare in LA County, with a median home value around $601,000 and median rent hovering near $1,700 a month—still accessible compared to neighboring areas. The population here is predominantly Latino, and that cultural character shapes everything from the food scene to community values; this is a family-oriented place where nearly 48% of households include kids and the average household size sits at almost four people. What keeps people here is the combination of lower costs, genuine neighborhood stability, and that sense of community you get in a smaller, established city where people actually know their neighbors.
South El Monte at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
20.9%
Foreign-Born
45.6%
Broadband Internet
88.4%
of households
Population Growth
-3.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics45.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in South El Monte: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In South El Monte, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (52.5%), and 61.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.3%
of residents
65 and Older
15.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
41.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
13.0%
of households
Married Couples
47.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.79
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 14% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in South El Monte
In South El Monte, rent runs 14% below the CA average, and home values are 18% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
62.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
36.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,802
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
50.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1959
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $745,520 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in South El Monte and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Los Angeles County, which includes South El Monte, is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
South El Monte: Los Angeles County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Los Angeles County (county-wide) · Annual averages
South El Monte is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What South El Monte 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
Commute27.3 min avg
How South El Monte residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In South El Monte, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 60% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
Long Beach International Airport (LGB)
Small hub1.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 21 mi
Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR)
Medium hub3.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 22 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 South El Monte runs 66% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
546.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,639.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
South El Monte 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 South El Monte, 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
South El Monte 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 South El Monte, 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
South El Monte 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
South El Monte 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
15.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
64
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
33
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" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in South El Monte
South El Monte has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
13.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Greater El Monte Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Bhc Alhambra Hospital
Psychiatric · 2.3 mi away · Rosemead
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Baldwin Park
Acute Care Hospitals · 3.7 mi away · Baldwin Park
Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.8 mi away · Montebello
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.
Education21.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in South El Monte
South El Monte's student/teacher ratio is 21.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 10.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
10.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
21.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near South El Monte (within 15 miles)
California State University-Fullerton
14.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 38,546 students · in-state tuition $7,952 · 80% graduate · median earnings $69,015 (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
13.6 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
7 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, 41 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for South El Monte
South El Monte 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
49 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
86 mi awayPublic Libraries in South El Monte
South El Monte Library
1430 N. Central Ave., South El Monte
Cities Near South El Monte
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to South El Monte?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
South El Monte FAQ
Is South El Monte, California affordable?⌄
South El Monte's median rent is $1,752/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $72,990/year. Median home value is $601,000.
Is South El Monte, California safe?⌄
South El Monte'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 2640 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in South El Monte, California?⌄
Los Angeles County, which includes South El Monte, has an unemployment rate of 5.7%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in South El Monte, California?⌄
The cost of living in South El Monte is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,752/month and median household income is $72,990/year. The median home value is $601,000. About 63% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in South El Monte, California?⌄
The average commute in South El Monte is 27 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