El Monte CA vs Los Angeles CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

El Monte, CA

California · Population: 107,066

  • Median HH Income$64,484
  • Median Home Price$768,251
  • Unemployment6.4%
  • Bachelor's+14.7%

Los Angeles, CA

California · Population: 3,857,897

  • Median HH Income$80,366
  • Median Home Price$956,465
  • Unemployment7.9%
  • Bachelor's+37.8%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
El Monte
107,066
Los Angeles
3,857,897
Los Angeles +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
El Monte
N/A
Los Angeles
N/A
Median Age
El Monte
38.1
Los Angeles
36.9
Los Angeles +
Foreign Born
El Monte
49.7%
El Monte +
Los Angeles
35.8%
White
El Monte
13.7%
Los Angeles
37.3%
Los Angeles +
Black
El Monte
0.6%
Los Angeles
8.5%
Los Angeles +
Asian
El Monte
29.3%
El Monte +
Los Angeles
12.0%
Hispanic
El Monte
65.1%
El Monte +
Los Angeles
47.2%
Spanish at Home
El Monte
N/A
Los Angeles
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
El Monte
$64,484
Los Angeles
$80,366
Los Angeles +
Per Capita Income
El Monte
$24,356
Los Angeles
$46,270
Los Angeles +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
El Monte
$77,230
Los Angeles
$77,230
Tie
Unemployment Rate
El Monte
6.4%
El Monte +
Los Angeles
7.9%
Poverty Rate
El Monte
17.2%
Los Angeles
16.6%
Los Angeles +
Bachelor's Degree+
El Monte
14.7%
Los Angeles
37.8%
Los Angeles +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
El Monte
$768,251
El Monte +
Los Angeles
$956,465
Homeownership Rate
El Monte
40.1%
El Monte +
Los Angeles
36.3%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
El Monte
503
Los Angeles
503
Tie
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
El Monte
2388
Los Angeles
2388
Tie

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
El Monte
26.3%
El Monte +
Los Angeles
27.3%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
El Monte
15.9%
Los Angeles
11.9%
Los Angeles +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
El Monte
17.0%
El Monte +
Los Angeles
17.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
El Monte
18.7%
Los Angeles
13.2%
Los Angeles +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
El Monte
12.9%
El Monte +
Los Angeles
15.9%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
El Monte
13.7%
Los Angeles
11.9%
Los Angeles +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
El Monte
N/A
Los Angeles
62.6°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
El Monte
N/A
Los Angeles
12.8 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
El Monte
7.9 µg/m³
Los Angeles
7.9 µg/m³
Tie
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
El Monte
75.0%
Los Angeles
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
El Monte
31.6 min
El Monte +
Los Angeles
33.8 min

Which City is Right for You?

Los Angeles leads in median household income at $80,366, while el Monte offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $768,251. On public safety, Los Angeles is safer with a violent crime rate of 503 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in El Monte. El Monte has a lower unemployment rate at 6.4%, and Los Angeles has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, El Monte scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.3%.

Compare More Cities

About El Monte & Los Angeles