Los Angeles vs South Gate
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $636,300 in South Gate and $921,200 in Los Angeles.
- Households earn more in Los Angeles ($81,939 vs $74,571 median).
- Los Angeles has more scorching days: 26 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 6.
- Los Angeles is growing faster: -0.8% since 2020 vs -2.9%.
Side by side
| Los Angeles, CA | South Gate, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 3,869,089 | 90,071 |
| Growth since 2020 | -0.8% | -2.9% |
| People per square mile | 8,223 | 12,446 |
| Median age | 37.2 | 36.3 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39% | 11% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $81,939 | $74,571 |
| Median home value | $921,200 | $636,300 |
| Home value to income | 11.2× | 8.5× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,933 | $1,531 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 113.6 | 113.6 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 170.4 | 170.4 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $85,200 | $85,200 |
| Homeowners | 36% | 45% |
| Top state income tax | 13.3% | 13.3% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.03% | 9.03% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 30.7 | 32.5 |
| Work from home | 20% | 7% |
| Take public transit | 6% | 4% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 8.2% | 7.4% |
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | 12.7% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 68° / 49° | 67° / 47° |
| July high / low | 82° / 65° | 77° / 62° |
| Precipitation per year | 14 in | 14 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 26 | 6 |
| Nights below freezing | 0 | 0 |
| Comfortable months | 12 | 12 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Very High | Very High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 11% | 11% |
| Home prices, past year | +1.2% | +1.2% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +31.9% | +31.9% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Los Angeles: January to December. South Gate: January to December.
Full monthly tables: Los Angeles weather by month and South Gate weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $85,200 in Los Angeles and $85,200 in South Gate. Moving from Los Angeles to South Gate, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.