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CITY · 2020 ACS

Bell Gardens

California · 39,501 residents · 2.459 sq mi
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The short version

Bell Gardens has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $45,289. Population has declined 10% since 2000. 6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $402,600. At a median age of 31.9, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 42% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 31.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
6% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 56%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
39,501
−10%since 2000
from 44,054 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
31.9
+34%since 2000
from 23.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
38K39K41K43K45K1990201020202024Bell Gardens
202438K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56.3%(2,481)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.1%(2,809)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 148.5%(3,358)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 198.4%(3,313)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 248.5%(3,355)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3415.7%(6,199)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4413.3%(5,244)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.9%(5,097)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6410.1%(3,981)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 746.1%(2,392)
US avg: 10%
75 to 842.4%(953)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over0.8%(319)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$45,289
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,597 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$14,221
+69%since 2000
from $8,415 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
22.9%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
26.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 27.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade16.4%
US avg: 10%
Information13%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance12.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical12.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade9%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing5.7%
US avg: 2.5%
Other services2.7%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration1.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.1%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$402,600
+56%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $171,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,296
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $665 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
23.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 23.8% in 2000
76.5% rent
Afford Score
8.9
−17%since 2009
from 10.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bell Gardens on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic4.7%(2,085)
Black0.6%(251)
Hispanic / Latino93.4%(41,132)
Asian0.5%(228)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic1.9%(740)
Black0.6%(220)
Hispanic / Latino96.2%(37,994)
Asian0.5%(200)
Other0.3%(137)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican82.7%(34,524)
Central American11.6%(4,826)
Salvadoran7.1%(2,978)
Guatemalan3.1%(1,291)
Nicaraguan0.7%(283)
Honduran0.7%(274)
Cuban0.4%(167)
Puerto Rican0.3%(124)
Ecuadorian0.2%(90)
Dominican0.2%(64)
Spaniard0%(18)
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.2%(72)
Chinese0.1%(37)
Korean0.1%(34)
Filipino0.1%(23)
Japanese0%(16)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American2.4%(1,003)
Irish0.3%(138)
English0.2%(104)
German0.1%(59)
Brazilian0.1%(40)
Italian0.1%(35)
Armenian0.1%(24)
Dutch0%(15)
Nigerian0%(14)
Swedish0%(9)
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest Central American population · Largest Salvadoran population · Largest Guatemalan population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
6.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
50.5%
+19.1 ptssince 2000
from 31.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
1.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 1.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.3 min
+59%since 2000
from 19.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
77.2%
+6.5 ptssince 2009
from 70.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
7.8%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.5%
−3.3 ptssince 2011
from 9.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
61.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2011
from 63.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
11.7%
−32.7 ptssince 2009
from 44.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Female
49.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Foreign born
41.0%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 45.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
18.0%
−43.8 ptssince 2013
from 61.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married58.2%(8,635)
Married36.8%(5,458)
Widowed1.4%(213)
Divorced3.5%(526)
Women 15+
Never married54.3%(8,192)
Married34.9%(5,261)
Widowed6.2%(939)
Divorced4.5%(683)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Bell Gardens, California?

Bell Gardens, California has about 39,501 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bell Gardens, California?

The typical household in Bell Gardens, California earns about $45,289 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bell Gardens, California expensive?

In Bell Gardens, California, the median home is worth about $402,600, and the typical rent is about $1,296 a month.

How educated are people in Bell Gardens, California?

About 6.1% of adults age 25 and over in Bell Gardens, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bell Gardens, California?

About 26.6% of people in Bell Gardens, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bell Gardens, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Bell Gardens, California has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,854 residents, a change of about -7 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →