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 is a mid-sized city located in the state of California. The city has a population of 79,676 residents. Lakewood has a population density of 8,475 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.
Are you trying to decide if living in Lakewood is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a good experience before relocating to any new city in California, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, crime, cost of living, health & safety, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Lakewood and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Lakewood to California and the national average.
Lakewood has a livability score of 77 out of 100 and is ranked #85 in California and #2,138 in the USA. Based on this score, Lakewood would be considered a very livable city! Another exciting tidbit, is that Lakewood ranks better than 90% of all US cities! Based on the rankings for each individual category, Lakewood has received high marks for amenities (A+), education (A+), employment (A+) and housing (B-). Lakewood does not do well for the following: cost of living (F). It might be a smart 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.
Finding affordable real estate and housing in Lakewood 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.
Assuming that Lakewood meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Lakewood. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Lakewood are simply unattainable. The median home price for Lakewood homes is $595,200, which is 45.4% higher than the California average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Lakewood, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 6.2, which is 3.1% lower than the California average.
| 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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