Lakewood, CA — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·California·Lakewood

Los Angeles County · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · population 78,494

Shrinking
Lakewood, CA
Image: Wikipedia · Lakewood, California
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
View watchlist →
63
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Lakewood stands

At or near all-time high. population shrinking 1.2% per year. rents up 5.5% in the last year.

Median home $886,739
1-year +1.2%
5-yr CAGR +4.6%
vs 5-yr peak -0.3%
Population -1.2%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2024-12$887k$443k$604k$764k$925k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
78/100
Very walkable
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
22/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
53/100
Workable for remote workers
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$3,448/mo$2,286$2,971$3,655202220242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent125139100120140202220242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 21.4
Lean rent

At a 21.4 price-to-rent ratio, the math is starting to lean toward renting in Lakewood. Owner-occupier ROI requires longer holds and the assumption that prices keep appreciating roughly at the rate of rent.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
56 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
62 · w22%
Distance from peak
88 · w18%
Population growth
26 · w16%
Rent YoY
82 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
70 · w10%
Long thesis

Lakewood has held up across the cycle: home values at $886,739 with +4.6% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.

Short thesis

Lakewood's population is shrinking 1.2% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — if people are leaving, the buyer pool is shrinking faster than the inventory. That eventually shows up in price.

About Lakewood

Lakewood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, with an estimated population of 78,494. It anchors the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area. The population has contracted 1.2% per year on average since 2020. The median home value in Lakewood is $886,739 as of 2026-04, up 1.2% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +4.6% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Lakewood average $3,448 per month, up 5.5% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 63 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Held the highs: currently -0.3% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.
●Hot rental market: rents up 5.5% YoY — landlords have pricing power, supports new investment math.

▼ Bear case

●Net out-migration: population shrinking 1.2% per year — services, schools, and tax base will follow.
●Expensive AND not growing: median home $886,739 with only +1.2% YoY. You’re paying premium pricing for a flat trend.

About Lakewood (Wikipedia)

Lakewood is a suburban city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 82,496 at the 2020 census. It is bordered by Long Beach on the west, northwest and south, Bellflower on the north, Cerritos on the northeast, Cypress on the east, and Hawaiian Gardens on the southeast. Major thoroughfares include Lakewood, Bellflower, and Del Amo Boulevards and Carson and South Streets. The San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) runs through the city's eastern regions.

Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.

City facts

MayorCassandra Chase
Area9.45 sq mi
Elevation46 ft
Motto"Times change, values don't"
Densityauto/sq mi

Extracted from the Wikipedia infobox. Values may be slightly out of date relative to the latest sources.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Los Angeles County right now.

NWS active alerts (CA)California Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Los Angeles County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Lakewood

El Monte, CA60 · StableMonterey Park, CA57 · StableBaldwin Park, CA60 · StableDowney, CA61 · Stable

Run the numbers for Lakewood

ToolCan I afford Lakewood?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Lakewood rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Lakewood to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolLakewood cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
60° / 41°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
82° / 60°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
258
~71% of year
Annual precip
22″ rain
8″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
Very low
Wildfire
Very high
Earthquake
Very high
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Lakewood listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
65%
Moderate climate
Median household income
$91,500
California state median
Top industries (state-level)
TechEntertainmentAgriculture

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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