What it's like to live in West Covina
West Covina is a mid-size city in California with household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. West Covina deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- Shrinking population
- High student-teacher ratio
How West Covina compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to West Covina
Based on West Covina's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,490
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $89,800 a year
- 55% of West Covina renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$155,960
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $77,980
- Homes cost 7.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 59% above US
$2,245/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,245 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $779,800. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $779,800 · 55% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 21% above US
5.2% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.2%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 35% below US
214 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1728/100k · West Covina Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 27% above US
33 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 32.9 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. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 43°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 16% below US
30% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 30% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
25 public schools inside the boundary
There are 25 public schools inside the boundary and 8 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (41 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
West Covina's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,245/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and people who dread long commutes.
Other places near West Covina
All California guides →Moving to Valinda →
2 mi away · pop. 20,962
Rent $1,829/mo · Income $100,165
Compare with West Covina →Moving to La Puente →
3 mi away · pop. 37,142
Rent $1,849/mo · Income $86,602
Compare with West Covina →Moving to Vincent →
3 mi away · pop. 15,340
Rent $2,064/mo · Income $100,443
Compare with West Covina →Not sure West Covina is the one?
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