Compton, CA Local Data & Statistics

State: CA

Total population: 92,698 Household income: $78,465 Rent: $1,664

Overview

Total population

92,698

Rent

$1,664

Year built

1957

Household income

$78,465

Per capita income

$24,592

Poverty rate

17.9%

Unemployment rate

6.6%

Household size

3.8 persons

Rent over 30% of income

54.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

California

Total population

92,698

Adults over 25

57,994

Total households

24,011

Household size

3.8 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$78,465

Per capita income

$24,592

Poverty rate

17.9%

Unemployment rate

6.6%

Rent over 30% of income

54.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,664

Year built

1957

Households that rent

43.6%

Households that own

56.4%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.6

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

7.5%

Black

24.1%

Asian

1.3%

Two or more races

29.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

72.9%

Not Hispanic or Latino

27.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

95%

Commute time to work

30 mins

Work from home

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

48.8%

High school graduate or GED

29%

Some college or associate degree

11.6%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

10.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Compton, CA with: California United States

Compton, CA

Total population92,698

Rent$1,664

Year built1957

Household income$78,465

Per capita income$24,592

Poverty rate17.9%

Unemployment rate6.6%

California State

Total population39,287,377

Rent$2,036

Year built1976

Household income$99,122

Per capita income$49,513

Poverty rate12%

Unemployment rate5.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityCompton, CA	StateCalifornia	CountryUnited States
Total population	92,698	39,287,377	334,922,499
Rent	$1,664	$2,036	$1,413
Year built	1957	1976	1980
Household income	$78,465	$99,122	$80,734
Per capita income	$24,592	$49,513	$44,673
Poverty rate	17.9%	12%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	6.6%	5.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Compton, CA, California and United States →

Summary for Compton, CA

Compton is located in California.

Rent & Income

In Compton, the typical monthly rent is $1,664 and the typical household income is $78,465. Rent here is lower than California and higher than the U.S., and household income is lower than California and similar to the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 17.9%, which is higher than in both California and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 43.6% of households. About 54.1% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Only about 10.6% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, indicating lower levels of formal education. The local unemployment rate is 6.6%, which is higher than both California and the national rate.

Compton, CA — Rent vs Household Income

Compton, CA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Compton, CA compares in California (180 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,664	29 / 180	from lower rent	$1,148 – $3,501
Household income	$78,465	149 / 180	from higher income	$57,719 – $234,707
Poverty rate	17.9%	169 / 180	from lower poverty	4.1% – 26.5%
Unemployment rate	6.6%	165 / 180	from lower unemployment	2.9% – 18.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in California with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Compton, CA

Rent

Rent prices put Compton in 29th place among 180 large communities in California. Across California, rents range from $1,148 in Porterville, CA up to $3,501 in Cupertino, CA.

Household income

For median household income, Compton is ranked 149th out of 180 large areas. Statewide incomes span from $57,719 in Hemet, CA to $234,707 in Cupertino, CA.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, Compton ranks 169th out of 180 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 4.1% in Cupertino, CA to 26.5% in Davis, CA.

Unemployment rate

For unemployment, Compton ranks 165th out of 180 large places. Across California, unemployment ranges from 2.9% in Santa Barbara, CA to 18.2% in Delano, CA.

💰 Rent in Compton, CA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,664 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Compton, CA

Annual Household Income: $78,465

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Compton, CA

Estimated Rate: 17.9%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Compton, CA

In Compton, CA, households that rent: 10,467 (43.6%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	10,467	43.6%
Owner-Occupied	13,544	56.4%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Compton, CA

In Compton, CA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 5,663 (54.1%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	5,663	54.1%
Other renter households	4,804	45.9%
Total renter households	10,467	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Compton, CA

Less than High School: 28,296 people (48.8%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 16,815 people (29%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 6,732 people (11.6%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 6,151 people (10.6%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 57,994

📊 Unemployment Rate in Compton, CA

Estimated Rate: 6.6%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

O'Fallon, MO92,697 Mount Pleasant, SC92,662 Roswell, GA92,577 Mission Viejo, CA92,415 Hoover, AL92,401 Bellingham, WA92,367 Redding, CA93,268 Carson, CA93,523 South Gate, CA91,836 Chino, CA91,775

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.