90260 and 90242 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
90260
90242
Opportunity
39 · Bottom 19%
vs41 · Bottom 23%
Growth
35 · Bottom 26%
vs23 · Bottom 10%
Climate
100 · Top 4%
vs100 · Top 4%
Physical resilience
10 · Bottom 4%
vs10 · Bottom 4%
Housing affordability
35 · Bottom 4%
vs40 · Bottom 5%
Access
99 · Top 8%
vs100 · Top 4%
Economic stability
66 · Top 38%
vs66 · Top 37%
Measured values
| Metric | 90260 | 90242 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,075 | 40,767 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $87,825 | $89,075 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,425 | $34,568 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 12,986/sq mi | 9,027/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $801,800 | $761,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,967 | $1,918 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 42.6% | 53.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 4.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.6% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 25.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | 9.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 28 | 136 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.9 | 1.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 600.0% | -28.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 77°F | 81°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 49°F | 47°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 11.8" | 12.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.0 min | 32.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.2 | 37.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 10 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 21.09 | 23.61 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 82.0% | 79.5% | 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
90260
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, earthquake.
90242
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, earthquake.
Full profiles: 90260 — Lawndale, CA · 90242 — Downey, CA · How this is calculated: methodology