The Town FilesSouth El Monte, California
City in Los Angeles County · population 19,567 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $601,000
- Household income
- $72,990
- Jan low / Jul high
- 46° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 37.2
South El Monte is a city of 19,567 people in Los Angeles County, California. The median home is worth $601,000, close to the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks more vibrant than 95% of California towns, more walkable than 93% of California towns, better for cycling than 89% of California towns.
How South El Monte ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in South El Monte is worth $601,000, close to the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 8.2 times the median household income of $72,990, which is more affordable than 23% of California towns. Median rent is $1,752 a month. 50.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | South El Monte | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $601,000 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,752 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $72,990 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.2× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 50.5% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in South El Monte
| People | South El Monte | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.5% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.9% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 2.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 45.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 93.3% |
Weather in South El Monte
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 46.1°F. About 15.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 64 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South El Monte since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on March 22, 2023 about 5.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 13, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on October 17, 2005.
Severe weather in Los Angeles County since 1996
Los Angeles County has been included in 88 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 8, 2025 | Fire | FM-5605: Canyon Fire |
| January 8, 2025 | Fire | DR-4856: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| January 8, 2025 | Fire | FM-5550: Eaton Fire |
| January 8, 2025 | Fire | FM-5551: Hurst Fire |
| January 7, 2025 | Fire | FM-5549: Palisades Fire |
Jobs and pay in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County had 4,525,711 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $83,554 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in South El Monte itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Public schools in South El Monte
3 public schools with 2,151 students, about 21.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South El Monte High | 9-12 | 1,276 | 21.6 |
| New Temple | K-5 | 577 | 19.9 |
| Dean L. Shively | 6-8 | 298 | 22.9 |
Towns near South El Monte
- El Monte, CA2.0 mi · 109,450 people · home $644,000
- Rosemead, CA2.3 mi · 51,185 people · home $807,200
- South San Gabriel, CA2.7 mi · 7,920 people · home $690,400
- Rose Hills, CA2.9 mi · 2,927 people · home $884,100
- Avocado Heights, CA3.0 mi · 13,317 people · home $725,000
- Temple City, CA3.6 mi · 36,494 people · home $961,800
- North El Monte, CA3.9 mi · 3,730 people · home $863,400
- San Gabriel, CA4.2 mi · 39,568 people · home $945,700
South El Monte questions
Is South El Monte, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South El Monte scores better for retirees than 5% of California towns and quieter than 6%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.2).
How much does a house cost in South El Monte?
The median owner-occupied home in South El Monte is valued at $601,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,990, so homes cost about 8.2 times income. Median rent is $1,752 a month.
What is the weather like in South El Monte?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 46.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 15.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does South El Monte get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South El Monte since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on March 22, 2023. The typical California town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)