F

Hawaiian Gardens, CA

Source:

Affordability Score: 34/100

Population: 14,184 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Hawaiian Gardens, CA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 14,184 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of F (34/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $76,410, median home value of $569,400, median rent of $1,696 per month, and 16.8% 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 17% 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 education, housing, rent. Unemployment currently reads 4.8% and poverty 16.4% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C+
$76,410
Median household income
Education F
16.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
7.5x
Home value $569,400 vs income
Commute D
26 min
Average commute time
Rent F
$2,601/mo
2BR fair market rent (41% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare D
$13,363/yr
Center-based infant care (17% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$76,410
▲ 23% vs national
Per Capita Income
$25,749
Unemployment Rate
4.8%
Poverty Rate
16.4%

Housing

Median Home Value
$569,400
▲ 107% vs national
Median Rent
$1,696/mo
Owner Occupied
42.9%
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+
16.8%
▼ 13 ppt vs national
High School+
44.5%
Median Age
34.4
Avg. Commute
26 min
▲ 0 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$13,363/yr
17% of income
Toddler (Center)
$11,480/yr
Preschool (Center)
$11,699/yr
School-Age (Center)
$10,326/yr

What This Means

Hawaiian Gardens, CA receives an overall affordability grade of F (34/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 14,184. Challenges include education and housing and rent. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Hawaiian Gardens ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Hawaiian Gardens, CA affordable?
Hawaiian Gardens, CA receives an overall affordability grade of F (34/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $76,410. Median home value is $569,400.
What is the cost of living in Hawaiian Gardens?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,696/mo. 2BR fair market rent $2,601/mo. Infant childcare $13,363/yr. Median home value $569,400.
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 →