Living in Lakewood, CA offers a suburban lifestyle with the convenience of being close to major urban centers. Located in the heart of Los Angeles County, Lakewood is just a short drive from both Los Angeles and Long Beach, making it an ideal location for those who want to enjoy the benefits of suburban living while having easy access to the amenities of a big city. The city is known for its well-maintained neighborhoods, beautiful parks, and strong sense of community.
Lakewood’s dining scene is diverse, offering a range of options from casual eateries to family-friendly restaurants. The city’s Lakewood Center is a popular destination, featuring a variety of retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment options. The annual Lakewood Pan American Fiesta is a highlight of the year, bringing the community together to celebrate with food, music, and family-friendly activities.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Lakewood provides plenty of opportunities for recreation. The city’s parks, including Mayfair Park and Del Valle Park, offer sports fields, playgrounds, and scenic walking trails, making them perfect spots for family outings and community events. The nearby Los Angeles River and El Dorado Regional Park provide additional opportunities for biking, fishing, and exploring the natural beauty of Southern California.
Lakewood is also known for its strong sense of community and family-friendly environment. The city hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the Lakewood Summer Concerts in the Park and the annual Halloween Carnival, which bring residents together to enjoy the community spirit and festive atmosphere. The city’s proximity to Los Angeles and Long Beach means that residents can easily access the amenities of major cities, including theaters, museums, and professional sports venues.
For those considering a move to California, Lakewood offers a perfect blend of suburban comfort, outdoor beauty, and urban convenience. Whether you're drawn by its parks, community events, or easy access to Los Angeles, living in Lakewood, CA provides a fulfilling and enjoyable lifestyle.
Amenities
Within the vicinity, you'll find a wealth of amenities, from restaurants and coffee shops to grocery stores and local shops, all easily accessible on foot.
Commute
High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.
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.
Ratings
Local residents have positive feedback regarding the convenience of amenities, parks, public transit, the friendliness of neighbors, the strong sense of community, and the overall safety of the area.
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.
Crime
High crime rates per 100,000 people are reported in this area, potentially indicating that it is an unsafe place to live. These statistics consider both violent and property offenses.
Lakewood, California is a medium-sized city with a population of 81,936 residents. Lakewood has a population density of 8,699 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. More than a quarter of the residents of Lakewood identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino, and 20% of the population speak Spanish as their primary or secondary language. When traveling to work, spending unnecessary time in your vehicle is not ideal and downright frustrating. Across all of America, the average one way commute time is 26 minutes, unfortunately, living in Lakewood offers up a higher than average one way commute time of 30 minutes.
Whether you’re moving to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Lakewood could be a positive experience compared to other cities in California if you know where to look. 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 Lakewood, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, cost of living, health & safety, education, employment and more.
The livability score in Lakewood is 74 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 85th percentile of all cities across America. There are nine total categories that generate the livability score. Lakewood scores well for amenities (A+), education (B), employment (A+) and housing (B) Lakewood does not do well for the following: crime (D-) and cost of living (F). It might be a good idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
If you're considering living in Lakewood, it comes with numerous advantages, particularly in the form of an extensive selection of local amenities. These amenities play a pivotal role in elevating the quality of life within this vibrant community. From easily accessible grocery stores, to conveniently located fitness facilities, a diverse range of dining establishments and a multitude of shopping options, Lakewood provides a comprehensive array of resources for its residents. This ensures the effortless fulfillment of your daily needs and creates ample opportunities for relaxation and recreation. The convenience of these local offerings greatly contributes to the overall appeal of the area, making it an enticing destination for those in search of convenience, diversity, and a gratifying lifestyle. If you're contemplating a move, the abundance of local amenities could very well be a defining characteristic of this area.
A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Lakewood excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.
Lakewood 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 Lakewood. Median real estate prices in Lakewood come in at $1,074,294, which is 46.8% higher than the California average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Lakewood, the home price to income ratio is 7.6, which is 1.3% lower than the California average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Lakewood | California | National |
| Average one way commute | 30min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 81.7% | 73.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.6% | 10.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.9% | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.3% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.0% | 2.7% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 5.1% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
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