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CITY

La Palma

California · 14,907 residents (2025 est.) · 1.781 sq mi
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Part of the Los Angeles metro area
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Notable rankings
#174Most densely populatedof 4,8918,370#281Most expensive homesof 6,786$973,600#315Most foreign-born residentsof 6,82637.7%
The short version

La Palma is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $117,989. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $973,600. With a median age of 45.1, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It ranks in the top 5% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.1
US median: 38.9
More educated
53% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 87%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
15,272
−1%since 2000
from 15,408 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
8,575 / sq mi
−1%since 2000
from 8,651 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
45.1
+18%since 2000
from 38.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:14,907 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
15K15K16K16K16K1990201020202024La Palma
202415K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$117,989
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $68,438 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$54,733
+106%since 2000
from $26,598 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
66.5%
+10.0 ptssince 2009
from 56.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
5.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.477
+18%since 2010
from 0.403 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade11.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information8.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services6%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical5.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration5%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing4.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Wholesale trade4.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$973,600
+87%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $285,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,262
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $955 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
67.6%
−6.5 ptssince 2000
from 74.1% in 2000
32.4% rent
Vacancy rate
1.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
25.0%
−12.9 ptssince 2009
from 37.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
62.1%
+16.2 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
8.3
+98%since 2000
from 4.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
53
RELATED:See current rent listings in La Palma on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic36.3%(5,592)
Black4.5%(696)
Hispanic / Latino11.3%(1,736)
Asian44.6%(6,874)
Other0%
Diversity Score78.8%(12,143)
2024
White, non-Hispanic20.7%(3,161)
Black3.2%(491)
Hispanic / Latino16.5%(2,526)
Asian54.1%(8,258)
Other5.5%(836)
Diversity Score79.2%(12,091)
Diversity Score
79
Unchangedsince 2000
from 79 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
52.9%
+14.8 ptssince 2000
from 38.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.2%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 90.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
18.8%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 11.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
32.5 min
+50%since 2000
from 21.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.2%
−12.1 ptssince 2009
from 81.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
15.8%
+14.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.2%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 5.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2011
from 60.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.4%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
58.5%
−13.9 ptssince 2009
from 72.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.6% in 2009
Female
50.9%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 53.4% in 2009
Foreign born
37.7%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 33.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.9%
−41.8 ptssince 2009
from 45.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2012
from 8.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.0%
−80.0 ptssince 2013
from 84.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
97.1%
+10.1 ptssince 2017
from 87.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
48.2%
−9.8 ptssince 2016
from 57.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
9.0%
+1.5 ptssince 2016
from 7.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in La Palma, California?

La Palma, California has about 15,272 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in La Palma, California?

The typical household in La Palma, California earns about $117,989 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is La Palma, California expensive?

In La Palma, California, the median home is worth about $973,600, and the typical rent is about $2,262 a month.

How educated are people in La Palma, California?

About 52.9% of adults age 25 and over in La Palma, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in La Palma, California?

About 5.0% of people in La Palma, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has La Palma, California grown since 1990?

Yes, La Palma, California has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 120 residents, a change of about -1 percent over that period.

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

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