AreaProfile

Compare

90242 vs 90501

Which is the better fit for you?

90242 — Downey, CA
46
Area Score
Bottom 7% nationally
90501 — Torrance, CA
48
Area Score
Bottom 10% nationally

90501 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.

Signals

90242
90501
Opportunity
41 · Bottom 23%
vs
48 · Bottom 35%
Growth
23 · Bottom 10%
vs
29 · Bottom 16%
Climate
100 · Top 4%
vs
100 · Top 4%
Physical resilience
10 · Bottom 4%
vs
10 · Bottom 4%
Housing affordability
40 · Bottom 5%
vs
40 · Bottom 5%
Access
100 · Top 4%
vs
99 · Top 8%
Economic stability
66 · Top 37%
vs
59 · Bottom 49%

Measured values

Metric9024290501Source period
Population40,76741,7872024 ACS 5-Year
Median household income$89,075$92,9232024 ACS 5-Year
Per capita income$34,568$46,3232024 ACS 5-Year
Population density9,027/sq mi7,350/sq mi2024 ACS 5-Year
Median home value$761,000$923,1002024 ACS 5-Year
Median gross rent$1,918$1,9132024 ACS 5-Year
Homeownership rate53.4%43.6%2024 ACS 5-Year
Unemployment rate4.8%4.6%June 2026
Employment change (year over year)-1.6%-1.6%June 2026
Bachelor's degree or higher25.4%40.2%2024 ACS 5-Year
Poverty rate9.7%12.3%2024 ACS 5-Year
Housing units permitted (12 months)13628512 months ending July 2026
Permits per 1,000 residents1.22.012 months ending July 2026
Permit change (year over year)-28.0%-4.7%12 months ending July 2026
Average July high81°F77°F1991-2020 Normals
Average January low47°F47°F1991-2020 Normals
Annual precipitation12.0"13.6"1991-2020 Normals
Distance to major airport7 mi9 miNASR current cycle
Average commute32.1 min27.1 min2024 ACS 5-Year
Median age37.738.72024 ACS 5-Year
Public schools1092024-25 school year
Students per teacher23.6124.212024-25 school year
Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility79.5%48.1%2024-25 school year

A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.

Physical risk tradeoff

90242

Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, earthquake.

90501

Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, earthquake.

Your best match

Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.

90242
54
Your Score
46
Area Score
90501
55
Your Score
48
Area Score

Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.

Full profiles: 90242 — Downey, CA · 90501 — Torrance, CA · How this is calculated: methodology