D

Harbor City, CA

Source:

Affordability Score: 40/100

Population: 25,457 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Harbor City, CA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 25,457 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of D (40/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $82,478, median home value of $689,300, median rent of $1,550 per month, and 33.0% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $2,601 per month (studio $1,863, 1BR $2,085, 3BR $3,298, 4BR $3,672). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $13,363 per year, consuming 16% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are housing, rent. Unemployment currently reads 7.9% and poverty 11.0% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B-
$82,478
Median household income
Education C
33.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
8.4x
Home value $689,300 vs income
Commute D
27 min
Average commute time
Rent F
$2,601/mo
2BR fair market rent (38% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare D
$13,363/yr
Center-based infant care (16% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$82,478
▲ 33% vs national
Per Capita Income
$39,448
Unemployment Rate
7.9%
Poverty Rate
11.0%

Housing

Median Home Value
$689,300
▲ 151% vs national
Median Rent
$1,550/mo
Owner Occupied
56.2%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$2,601/mo
▲ 117% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,863
1BR
$2,085
2BR
$2,601
3BR
$3,298
4BR
$3,672

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
33.0%
▲ 3 ppt vs national
High School+
52.1%
Median Age
41.2
Avg. Commute
27 min
▲ 1 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$13,363/yr
16% of income
Toddler (Center)
$11,480/yr
Preschool (Center)
$11,699/yr
School-Age (Center)
$10,326/yr

What This Means

Harbor City, CA receives an overall affordability grade of D (40/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 25,457. Challenges include housing and rent. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Harbor City ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Harbor City, CA affordable?
Harbor City, CA receives an overall affordability grade of D (40/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $82,478. Median home value is $689,300.
What is the cost of living in Harbor City?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,550/mo. 2BR fair market rent $2,601/mo. Infant childcare $13,363/yr. Median home value $689,300.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →