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Living in
Whittier.
About
Life in Whittier
Living in Whittier means settling into a well-established residential community with solid middle-class economics—median household income sits around $97,201 and most residents are homeowners rather than renters. The city itself is compact at 14.7 square miles, but it's surrounded by larger unincorporated areas with the Whittier name, so you're really part of a larger regional community in the San Gabriel Valley. The Latino community makes up roughly two-thirds of the population, giving the city distinct cultural character, though you'll find real economic and educational diversity here with about 29% of residents holding bachelor's degrees.
Whittier at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.1%
Foreign-Born
17.6%
Broadband Internet
92.2%
of households
Population Growth
-3.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics17.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Whittier: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Whittier, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (51.6%), and 36.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.7%
of residents
65 and Older
15.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
22.6%
of households
Married Couples
50.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.01
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 Whittier
In Whittier, rent runs 6% below the CA average, and home values are 12% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
57.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,246
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1956
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $815,136 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in Whittier and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Whittier is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Whittier 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
Commute33.2 min avg
How Whittier residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Whittier, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 46% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 mi
Long Beach International Airport (LGB)
Small hub1.9M 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 20% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Whittier runs 20% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
394.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,976.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Whittier 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 Whittier, 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.
174 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Whittier 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 Whittier, 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
Whittier 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
Whittier 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
13.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
39
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
32
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" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Whittier
Whittier has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
6.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Pih Health Hospital-whittier
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Whittier Hospital Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Greater El Monte Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 5.7 mi away · South El Monte
Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.7 mi away · Montebello
Coast Plaza Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6 mi away · Norwalk
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.
Education23.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Whittier
Whittier's student/teacher ratio is 23.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 29.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
18
within city limits
Private Schools
8
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Whittier
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 764 students · in-state tuition $52,877 · 65% graduate · median earnings $68,254 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
California State University-Fullerton
9.7 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
13.9 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)
California State University-Los Angeles
11 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, 44 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Whittier
Whittier has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (44 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
44 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
46 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
92 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Whittier
Whittier Public Library
7344 S. Washington Ave., Whittier
Whittwood Branch Library
10537 Santa Gertrudes Ave., Whittier
Cities Near Whittier
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Whittier?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Whittier FAQ
Is Whittier, California affordable?⌄
Whittier's median rent is $1,906/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $97,201/year. Median home value is $822,600.
Is Whittier, California safe?⌄
Whittier's violent crime rate was 395 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1977 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Whittier, California?⌄
Whittier has an unemployment rate of 5.6%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Whittier, California?⌄
The cost of living in Whittier is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,906/month and median household income is $97,201/year. The median home value is $822,600. About 57% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Whittier, California?⌄
The average commute in Whittier is 33 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