City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Downey, CA

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

111,793
Residents
$87,400
Median income
$728,500
Median home
$2,601
Median rent (state)

Downey - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Downey lands in the 69th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

69th
percentile, household income
93rd
percentile, home value
93rd
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Downey, CA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 111,793 residents in Downey, a mid-sized U.S. city within California. Downey households earn a median of $87,400 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.0%. Typical homes in Downey are valued around $728,500, and the median resident age is 37.0 years. Educational attainment runs 25.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 61.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 140 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 289% from five years earlier.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, California scores 110.7 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,601 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Downey workers runs 28.4 minutes, with 73.5% driving alone and 8.3% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 100.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

111,793 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$87,400 /yr

Poverty 7.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Downey compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 69% higher than other cities
Home value 93% pricier than other cities
Median rent 93% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Downey's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in California, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

69thIncome percentile

69th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Downey's home value compares nationally

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

$728,500 7th percentile more affordable than 7% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $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. Downey $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 - Downey, CA Downey, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Downey, 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 Downey, CA median $87,400/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%
Downey, 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 Downey, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 25.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.8%

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

Population
111,793
Median Income
$87,400
Median Home Value
$728,500
Median Age
37.0
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Labor force participation
61.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
25.6%

Schools

Total Schools
21
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
106,000 residents108,000 residents110,000 residents112,000 residents114,000 residents116,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 113,963 residents 108,468 residents ▼ -4.8%
Downey's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
140
housing units authorized
Single-Family
136
detached homes
Multifamily
4
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 36
2020 57
2021 121
2022 157
2023 154
2024 140

Permit volume increased 289% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
28.4 minutes
Drive Alone
73.5%
Carpool
11.9%
Public Transit
2.9%
Walk
1.7%
Work from Home
8.3%
Other
1.7%

Based on 54,368 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 Downey sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,601/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
100.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Murrieta
111,621 people
Costa Mesa
110,538 people
Temecula
110,404 people
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
109,900 people
Santa Maria
109,880 people
Carlsbad
114,500 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Downey's 111,793 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Pueblo, CO
111,514 people
Peoria, IL
112,126 people
Pompano Beach, FL
112,212 people
Miami Gardens, FL
111,264 people
Everett, WA
111,083 people
Lansing, MI
112,546 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Downey's $87,400 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Freeport, MN
$87,396 median income
Harbor Hills, OH
$87,396 median income
Eagleville, TN
$87,404 median income
DeBary, FL
$87,391 median income
Battlefield, MO
$87,414 median income
Fultonville, NY
$87,386 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Downey, 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 Downey, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 29.8% 7.4% 34.5% 22.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 75.3% White 29.8% Black or African American 3.7% Asian 7.4% American Indian 2.0% Native Hawaiian 0.3% Some other race 34.5% Two or more races 22.2% 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 Downey 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
Downey (this city) 111,793 $87,400
Murrieta 111,621 $109,780
Costa Mesa 110,538 $110,073
Temecula 110,404 $117,840
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Downey, CA?

What is the population of Downey, CA? +

The population of Downey, CA stands at 111,793 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Downey, the typical household earns $87,400 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Downey? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Downey; 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.

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

The median home value in Downey is $728,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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 Editorial

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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.