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California city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Los Angeles?

What it costs to live in Los Angeles, and how it compares with other California cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

32

358th best value in California

How much you get for what you pay, versus other California cities.

Overall livability

46

232nd overall in California

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Los Angeles is home to about 3,902,440 people. A typical home runs $705,900 and a household earns around $69,800, a price-to-income ratio of 10.1. Among California's largest cities, it ranks 358th for value and 232nd overall.

Los Angeles at a glance

Median home price

$705,900

382nd in CA of 406

Median rent

$1,641/mo

Median household income

$69,800

Home price to income

10.1x

Unemployment

7.6%

304th in CA of 406

School rating

6/10

275th in CA of 406

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in CA of 406

Walk score

100/100

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‹ See all top California cities ranked  ยท  California state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within California only. Updated 2026.