Downey, CA · standard
ZIP Code 90242
Los Angeles County, California - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 43,497
- 3,690/sq mi High-density area
- $89,075
- Median income Above-median income area
- $761,000
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 25.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Downey pairs an above-median household income with top-decile home values, in a suburban-density, mixed-tenure area.
- Top 28%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 5%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 3,690
- people per sq mi
- 53%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 90242 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 90242 (Downey, CA) rose +8.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 360.8 in 2023 to 390.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 90242 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Downey, Los Angeles County, California, with 43,497 residents across 11.8 square miles, a density of 3,690 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 90242 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $89,075 (12% below the average California ZIP), while per-capita income is $34,568. The poverty rate is 9.7%, with unemployment at 5.7%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $761,000 (2% below the average California ZIP) and median rent is $1,918; 53.4% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 25.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.7, and the average commute is 29 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Los Angeles County, so 90242 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 90242
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Downey, CA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 90242.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
96 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
86 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
74 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
61 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
54 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 90242, Downey, CA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
43,497
Population
11.8
Area (sq mi)
3,690
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 90242?
37.7
Median Age
48.7%
Male
51.3%
Female
32.9%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$89,075
Median Household Income
-12% vs state ZIP avg
$34,568
Per Capita Income
9.7%
Poverty Rate
5.7%
Unemployment Rate
29.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 90242 ranks nationally
Downey, CA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$89,075 Top 28% higher than 72% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
12,670housing units
12,670
Total Housing Units
12,419
Occupied Units
251
Vacant Units
3.23
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$761,000
Median Home Value
-2% vs state ZIP avg
$1,918
Median Rent
1959
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+8.1%
YoY Change (2024)
390
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+290%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 90242 have increased 8.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +290% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.6% | 282 |
| 2021 | +10.3% | 311 |
| 2022 | +14.7% | 357 |
| 2023 | +1.2% | 361 |
| 2024 | +8.1% | 390 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 600 business establishments in ZIP 90242, employing approximately 16,330 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,292,648,000.
600
Businesses
16,330
Employees
$1.3B
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 96 | 16.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 86 | 14.3% |
| Retail trade | 74 | 12.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 61 | 10.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 54 | 9.0% |
| Construction | 51 | 8.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 38 | 6.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 29 | 4.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 29 | 4.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 23 | 3.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 19 | 3.2% |
| Manufacturing | 16 | 2.7% |
| Information | 10 | 1.7% |
| Educational services | 6 | 1.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 1.0% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 90242 vs 90241 →
ZIP 90242 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 90650
Norwalk (90650)
105,549 residents
- 90201
Bell Gardens (90201)
101,279 residents
- 90280
South Gate (90280)
94,396 residents
- 90706
Bellflower (90706)
76,615 residents
- 90262
Lynwood (90262)
69,745 residents
- 90723
Paramount (90723)
54,099 residents
- 90242
Downey (90242)
43,497 residents
- 90241
Downey (90241)
42,399 residents
- 90712 31,499
Lakewood (90712)
31,499 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 90242 ranks #7 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 90242 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 90712
Lakewood (90712)
$122,435 median income
- 90240
Downey (90240)
$101,904 median income
- 90650
Norwalk (90650)
$100,085 median income
- 90242
Downey (90242)
$89,075 median income
- 90241
Downey (90241)
$88,006 median income
- 90706
Bellflower (90706)
$78,722 median income
- 90723
Paramount (90723)
$75,250 median income
- 90262
Lynwood (90262)
$75,194 median income
- 90280
South Gate (90280)
$74,651 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 90242 ranks #4 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90241 | Downey, CA | 42,399 | 1.5 mi |
| 90723 | Paramount, CA | 54,099 | 2.2 mi |
| 90706 | Bellflower, CA | 76,615 | 2.5 mi |
| 90240 | Downey, CA | 25,876 | 2.7 mi |
| 90262 | Lynwood, CA | 69,745 | 3.4 mi |
| 90280 | South Gate, CA | 94,396 | 3.3 mi |
| 90650 | Norwalk, CA | 105,549 | 3.5 mi |
| 90201 | Bell Gardens, CA | 101,279 | 3.8 mi |
| 90712 | Lakewood, CA | 31,499 | 5.1 mi |
| 90040 | Los Angeles, CA | 12,520 | 5.0 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 90242, both outside CA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (43,497 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Los Angeles County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 90242 in?
ZIP code 90242 (Downey) is located in Los Angeles County, California. Los Angeles County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/los-angeles-ca.
What is the population of ZIP code 90242?
ZIP code 90242 in Downey, CA has a population of 43,497 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 90242?
The median household income in ZIP 90242 is $89,075, which is 17% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 90242?
The median home value in ZIP 90242 is $761,000, which is 174% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 90242?
The largest racial group in ZIP 90242 is Two or More Ethnicities at 26.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 77.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 90242?
ZIP code 90242 has 600 business establishments employing approximately 16,330 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 90242?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 90242 are: Health care and social assistance (96), Accommodation and food services (86), Retail trade (74). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 90242?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 90242 increased by 8.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 290%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 90242?
In ZIP code 90242, 50.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 25.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 90242?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 90242 is 29.3 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 90242?
In ZIP code 90242, approximately 53.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 46.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 90242?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 90242 is 9.7% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 90242's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 90242 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Downey, CA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.