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Living in
West Whittier-Los Nietos.
West Whittier-Los Nietos is an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, CA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in West Whittier-Los Nietos
This is a working-class to middle-class Latino community that feels lived-in and established rather than trendy. Most people here own their homes—about 73% do—and the median home value around $638,900 reflects that stability, though it's still pricey for what you get in LA County. The median household income of $111,699 suggests families are doing reasonably well, but the 16% college degree rate indicates education may be less emphasized here than in some surrounding areas.
West Whittier-Los Nietos at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.0%
Foreign-Born
21.9%
Broadband Internet
92.7%
of households
Population Growth
-4.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics21.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in West Whittier-Los Nietos: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In West Whittier-Los Nietos, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (72.5%), and 55.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.2%
of residents
65 and Older
15.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
41.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
10.1%
of households
Married Couples
57.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.83
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 6% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in West Whittier-Los Nietos
In West Whittier-Los Nietos, rent runs 6% below the CA average, and home values are 13% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,890
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
75.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1954
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.8%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in West Whittier-Los Nietos and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Los Angeles County, which includes West Whittier-Los Nietos, is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
West Whittier-Los Nietos: Los Angeles County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Los Angeles County (county-wide) · Annual averages
West Whittier-Los Nietos is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What West Whittier-Los Nietos 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
Commute31.6 min avg
How West Whittier-Los Nietos residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In West Whittier-Los Nietos, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 44% 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
- 20 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 92% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office, which covers West Whittier-Los Nietos, runs 92% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
632.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,647.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
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 West Whittier-Los Nietos, 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.
173 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
West Whittier-Los Nietos 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 West Whittier-Los Nietos, 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
West Whittier-Los Nietos 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
West Whittier-Los Nietos 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 West Whittier-Los Nietos
Uninsured
6.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside West Whittier-Los Nietos's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Pih Health Hospital-whittier
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.2 mi away · Whittier
Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.3 mi away · Montebello
Whittier Hospital Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.1 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.
Education21.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in West Whittier-Los Nietos
West Whittier-Los Nietos's student/teacher ratio is 21.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 16.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
16.9%
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 West Whittier-Los Nietos (within 15 miles)
California State University-Fullerton
12.4 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
13.5 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
12.7 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, 41 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for West Whittier-Los Nietos
West Whittier-Los Nietos 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
91 mi awayPublic Libraries in West Whittier-Los Nietos
Los Nietos Library
8511 Duchess Dr., Whittier
Sorensen Library
6934 Broadway Ave., Whittier
Cities Near West Whittier-Los Nietos
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to West Whittier-Los Nietos?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
West Whittier-Los Nietos FAQ
Is West Whittier-Los Nietos, California affordable?⌄
West Whittier-Los Nietos's median rent is $1,913/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $111,699/year. Median home value is $638,900.
Is West Whittier-Los Nietos, California safe?⌄
West Whittier-Los Nietos is policed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 632 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1648 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in West Whittier-Los Nietos, California?⌄
Los Angeles County, which includes West Whittier-Los Nietos, has an unemployment rate of 5.7%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in West Whittier-Los Nietos, California?⌄
The cost of living in West Whittier-Los Nietos is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,913/month and median household income is $111,699/year. The median home value is $638,900. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in West Whittier-Los Nietos, California?⌄
The average commute in West Whittier-Los Nietos is 32 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