City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Cerritos, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Cerritos - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

48,340
Residents
$133,953
Median income
$908,600
Median home
$3,236
Median rent (state)

Cerritos - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Cerritos lands in the 91st percentile for household income and the 3rd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

91st
percentile, household income
96th
percentile, home value
98th
percentile, median rent
3rd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Cerritos, CA

California's Cerritos is a small city, with 48,340 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Cerritos brings in $133,953 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 5.0%. Typical homes in Cerritos are valued around $908,600, and the median resident age is 47.0 years. 57.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 55.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 1 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity). Cerritos's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 5683.1 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

California carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $3,236 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 99.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

48,340 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$133,953 /yr

Poverty 5.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Cerritos compare to other US cities?

Where Cerritos sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 91% higher than other cities
Home value 96% pricier than other cities
Median rent 98% pricier than other cities
Safety 3% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to California alone, Cerritos ranks #429 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Cerritos against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Cerritos toward the top of California's cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Cerritos ranks #202 - the 86th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Cerritos only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#243 of 1,338
82nd percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#138 of 1,458
82nd percentile in California
Median Home Value
#282 of 1,343
79th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#840 of 1,450
41st percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#202 of 1,458
86th percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

91stIncome percentile
3rdSafety percentile

91st percentile nationally for median household income · 3rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Cerritos's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Cerritos's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 32 Avg. percentile National median
Cerritos's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Cerritos's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$908,600 4th percentile more affordable than 4% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Cerritos $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. 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 · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Cerritos, CA Cerritos, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Cerritos, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Cerritos, CA median $133,953/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Cerritos, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Cerritos, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 57.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
48,340
Median Income
$133,953
Median Home Value
$908,600
Median Age
47.0
Poverty Rate
5.0%
Labor force participation
55.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
57.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
5683.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
350.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
5332.8
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
17
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
46,000 residents47,000 residents48,000 residents49,000 residents50,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 49,389 residents 46,367 residents ▼ -6.1%
Cerritos's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 1
2022 0
2023 4
2024 1

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
70.2%
Carpool
9.9%
Public Transit
1.0%
Walk
0.5%
Work from Home
17.3%
Other
1.1%

Based on 21,798 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Cerritos sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$3,236/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Poway
48,515 people
San Luis Obispo
48,039 people
North Highlands
47,900 people
Ceres
48,918 people
Antelope
49,080 people
Azusa
49,318 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Cerritos's 48,340 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hilo, HI
48,223 people
Niagara Falls, NY
48,198 people
Cleveland, TN
48,185 people
Hattiesburg, MS
48,507 people
Cedar Hill, TX
48,547 people
Fort Pierce, FL
48,094 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Cerritos's $133,953 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bishop, GA
$133,958 median income
Eagleview, PA
$133,958 median income
Arcola, VA
$133,992 median income
Sunset Hills, MO
$133,895 median income
Woodland Hills, NE
$134,022 median income
Farmingdale, NY
$134,037 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Cerritos, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Cerritos, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 14.5% 6.8% 62.1% 9.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 14.9% White 14.5% Black or African American 6.8% Asian 62.1% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.5% Some other race 5.7% Two or more races 9.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Cerritos compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Cerritos (this city) 48,340 $133,953
Poway 48,515 $143,825
San Luis Obispo 48,039 $66,711
North Highlands 47,900 $65,090
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Cerritos, CA?

What is the population of Cerritos, CA? +

The population of Cerritos, CA stands at 48,340 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Cerritos, CA? +

Median annual household income in Cerritos runs $133,953, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Cerritos? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Cerritos; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Cerritos, CA safe? +

Cerritos has a total crime rate of 5683.1 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Cerritos, CA? +

Homes in Cerritos carry a median value of $908,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.