What it's like to live in Pico Rivera
Pico Rivera is a smaller city in California. The numbers below lay out what daily life there actually looks like.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Pico Rivera deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, unemployment above the national average, and crime rates above the national average.
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average unemployment
- Crime above national average
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
How Pico Rivera compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Pico Rivera
Based on Pico Rivera's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,572
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $71,440 a year
- 59% of Pico Rivera renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$129,720
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $64,860
- Homes cost 7.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 26% above US
$1,786/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,786 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $648,600. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $648,600 · 59% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 33% above US
5.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.7%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 46% above US
480 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2123/100k · Pico Rivera Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 17% above US
30 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 30.3 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 46°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 55% below US
16% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.
Schools
15 public schools inside the boundary
There are 15 public schools inside the boundary and 4 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 24:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (40 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Nothing in Pico Rivera's numbers stands out as a clear strength, and the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,786/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget, anyone moving without a job lined up, and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Pico Rivera
All California guides →Moving to West Whittier-Los Nietos →
1 mi away · pop. 25,615
Rent $1,913/mo · Income $111,699
Compare with Pico Rivera →Moving to Montebello →
2 mi away · pop. 61,045
Rent $1,827/mo · Income $79,971
Compare with Pico Rivera →Moving to Commerce →
4 mi away · pop. 11,993
Rent $1,549/mo · Income $77,064
Compare with Pico Rivera →Moving to Bell Gardens →
4 mi away · pop. 38,229
Rent $1,694/mo · Income $62,298
Compare with Pico Rivera →Not sure Pico Rivera is the one?
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