Living in Whittier, CA offers a suburban lifestyle with a deep sense of history and community. Known for its tree-lined streets and historic homes, Whittier is a charming city that blends the old with the new. The city’s Uptown Whittier area is a hub of activity, featuring a variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues set against a backdrop of beautifully preserved architecture.
Whittier’s dining scene is diverse, offering a range of options from farm-to-table restaurants to cozy cafes. The city’s Greenleaf Avenue is a popular spot for dining and shopping, with a mix of local boutiques and eateries. The annual Whittier Uptown Association Car Show is a highlight, attracting car enthusiasts from all over Southern California for a day of classic cars, live music, and family-friendly activities.
For those who enjoy the outdoors, Whittier offers plenty of green spaces and recreational opportunities. The Whittier Narrows Recreation Area provides a wide range of activities, including hiking, biking, and fishing, while the Hellman Park Trail offers scenic views of the city and surrounding hills. The city’s parks, including Penn Park and Palm Park, are perfect for picnics, sports, and community events.
Whittier is also known for its strong sense of community and family-friendly atmosphere. The city hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the Whittier Holiday Parade and the Summer Concerts in the Park, which bring residents together for fun and fellowship. The local schools are highly regarded, making Whittier an attractive place for families.
For those considering a move to Southern California, Whittier offers a unique blend of historical charm, community spirit, and modern amenities. Whether you're drawn by its historic downtown, outdoor activities, or welcoming atmosphere, living in Whittier, CA provides a fulfilling and enjoyable lifestyle.
Employment
With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.
Amenities
The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.
Commute
Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.
Cost Of Living
This area is known for its high cost of living, which means you should anticipate higher costs for everyday goods and services, housing, groceries, and health care.
Crime
Reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people, this area may be perceived as an unsafe place to reside. These statistics encompass both violent and property crime rates.
Health & Safety
Subpar air quality and the limited availability of certain health-related facilities such as hospitals, police stations, doctors and pharmacies may have contributed to the low score in this category.
Located in the state of California, Whittier is a moderately-sized city with a population of 84,821 inhabitants. With a population density of 5,790 people per square mile, Whittier is well above the nation's average density level. More than a quarter of the residents of Whittier identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino, and 33% of the population speak Spanish as their primary or secondary language. An important consideration when living in Whittier 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 34 minutes, far surpassing the national average of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Whittier 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. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, cost of living, commute, employment, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Whittier and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Whittier to California and the national average.
The livability score in Whittier is 55 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 23rd percentile of all cities across America. Compared to the US average, this city has a score which ranks among the lowest in the nation, and it is not considered a very livable city. Based on the grades for each individual category, Whittier has been rewarded with high marks for employment (A-). There is at least one category that did not score well in Whittier. The following was graded with a disappointing score: amenities (F) and cost of living (F).
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Whittier is actually affordable. The median home price for Whittier homes is $598,000, which is 46.1% higher than the California average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Whittier, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 7.9, which is 23.4% higher than the California average.
| Statistic | Whittier | California | National |
| Average one way commute | 34min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 80.7% | 73.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 10.0% | 10.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.7% | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.4% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.5% | 2.7% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 4.9% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
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