La Center 76 Excellent
La Center Livability #156 ranked city in Washington#3,549 ranked city in the USARanks better than 87% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
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Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in La Center

PROS
  • Crime Crime

    This area is characterized by a crime rate, per 100,000 individuals, that falls well below the national average, indicating its potential as a very safe place to live.

  • Employment Employment

    This area scores extremely well in the employment category. This is primarily due to the combination of low unemployment rates, higher median home income and income per capita.

  • Housing Housing

    The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.

  • Schools Schools

    A high score in the schools category could be the result of elements like top-notch test scores, high education levels and the convenient location of elementary and high schools in this area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Residents of this area contend with a high cost of living, resulting in increased expenditures for everyday goods and services, housing, utilities and health care.

What's it like Living in La Center?

La Center is a small city located in the state of Washington. The city has a population of 3,413 people. The majority of La Center residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Asian and Black. An important consideration when living in La Center is the longer-than-average commute times. If you seek a short work commute, this area may not be the best choice for you. The one-way commute time here typically takes 40 minutes, far surpassing the national average of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in La Center could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Washington if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around La Center, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, crime, cost of living, employment, housing and more.

The livability score in La Center is 75/100 and the city is ranked in the 87th percentile of all cities across America. Based on this score, La Center would be considered a very livable city! For each of the livability categories, we see that La Center ranks very well for crime (A-) and education (A). Regrettably for La Center, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F) and cost of living (F).

Low rates of violent crime, encompassing offenses such as murder, rape, robbery and assault, contribute significantly to a safer living environment. This reduction in crime minimizes the chances of personal harm, property theft, or violent incidents. Furthermore, low crime rates can have a positive impact on property values and the overall desirability of an area. There were 64 crimes per 100,000 residents, which signifies that La Center boasts an impressively low violent crime rate that falls well below the national average.

The unemployment rate in La Center has consistently declined over the years and currently stands well below the national average at 2.3%. This downward trend holds the potential to reduce poverty and inequality within the region, promote higher wage levels and stimulate greater economic growth. Such positive indicators signal the overall robust health of the local economy, offering a promising outlook for its residents and fostering an environment of financial well-being and prosperity.

Finding affordable real estate and housing in La Center can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

La Center real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in La Center. Median real estate prices in La Center come in at $679,144, which is 38.1% higher than the Washington average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In La Center, the home price to income ratio is 4.6, which is 14.8% lower than the Washington average.

Best Places to Live in and Around La Center

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Compare La Center, WA Livability

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      La Center transportation information

      Statistic La Center Washington National
      Average one way commute40min27min26min
      Workers who drive to work82.7%72.3%76.4%
      Workers who carpool6.5%10.2%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit1.7%6.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.9%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.7%3.6%2.8%
      Working from home5.7%5.6%4.6%
      Source: The La Center, WA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.