The Town FilesWest Carson, California
Community in Los Angeles County · population 22,870 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $689,700
- Household income
- $92,775
- Jan low / Jul high
- 47° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 45.2
West Carson is a community of 22,870 people in Los Angeles County, California. The median home is worth $689,700, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks more vibrant than 96% of California towns, better for first-time buyers than 93% of California towns, more walkable than 87% of California towns.
How West Carson 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 West Carson is worth $689,700, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 7.4 times the median household income of $92,775, which is more affordable than 35% of California towns. Median rent is $1,891 a month. 70.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Carson | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $689,700 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,891 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $92,775 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.4× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 70.7% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in West Carson
| People | West Carson | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.5% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.9% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.7% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 36.9% | — |
| Work from home | 12.8% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.3% | 93.3% |
Weather in West Carson
July highs average 76.9°F and January lows 47.0°F. About 13.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Carson since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on November 9, 1982 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 4, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on January 31, 1979.
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 West Carson itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in West Carson
8 public schools with 6,654 students, about 19.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phineas Banning Senior High | 9-12 | 2,437 | 19.8 |
| Wilmington Mid Sci Tech Engr Arts Math (STEAM) Magnet | 6-8 | 1,243 | 18.0 |
| Harry Bridges Span | K-8 | 1,203 | 21.5 |
| Wilmington Park Elementary | K-5 | 496 | 19.8 |
| Broad Avenue Elementary | K-5 | 486 | 18.7 |
| Scholarship Prep - South Bay (charter) | K-8 | 402 | 25.1 |
| Fries Avenue Elementary | K-5 | 330 | 17.4 |
| Dan M. Issacs Avalon High | 9-12 | 57 | 28.5 |
Towns near West Carson
- Lomita, CA2.5 mi · 20,921 people · home $831,500
- Carson, CA2.8 mi · 95,558 people · home $704,400
- Torrance, CA3.6 mi · 147,067 people · home $1,074,700
- Rolling Hills Estates, CA3.8 mi · 8,280 people · home $1,692,600
- Gardena, CA5.0 mi · 61,027 people · home $700,600
- Alondra Park, CA5.2 mi · 8,569 people · home $835,100
- Lawndale, CA5.7 mi · 31,807 people · home $781,900
- West Rancho Dominguez, CA5.8 mi · 24,347 people · home $612,900
West Carson questions
Is West Carson, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Carson scores better for retirees than 47% of California towns and quieter than 28%. 24.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.2).
How much does a house cost in West Carson?
The median owner-occupied home in West Carson is valued at $689,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,775, so homes cost about 7.4 times income. Median rent is $1,891 a month.
What is the weather like in West Carson?
July highs average 76.9°F and January lows 47.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does West Carson get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Carson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on November 9, 1982. 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)