South El Monte, California Demographics & Population 2026

Name: South El Monte, California Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

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Expensive MarketHome value to income ratio of 8.2x indicates a costly housing market

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, South El Monte, California had a total population of 19,287, the 359th largest city in California, with a median household income of $72,990, which is 26% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 20.9%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Housing affordability is a challenge — homes cost 8.2x the median household income.

South El Monte Quick Facts

Population 19,287

Median Household Income $72,990

Median Home Value $601,000

Poverty Rate 20.9%

Unemployment Rate 7.4%

Median Age 37.2 years

Homeownership Rate 50.5%

Affordability Ratio 8.2x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 10.5%

High School Graduation Rate 55.1%

Diversity Index 40/100

Population 19,287 359th of 1,570

Median Income $72,990 below average

Poverty Rate 20.9% 68% higher than national

Median Home Value $601,000 average

How South El Monte Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	19,413	19,287	-0.6%
Median household income	$67,153	$72,990	+8.7%
Median home value	$578,100	$601,000	+4.0%

How South El Monte Compares

Median Household Income

South El Monte

$72,990

$99,122

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

South El Monte

$601,000

$734,700

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 17.5%

$25K-$50K 19.7%

$50K-$100K 27.3%

$100K+ 35.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.0%

$10K-$15K

5.1%

$15K-$20K

3.9%

$20K-$25K

5.5%

$25K-$30K

4.9%

$30K-$35K

3.7%

$35K-$40K

3.3%

$40K-$45K

3.4%

$45K-$50K

4.4%

$50K-$60K

6.7%

$60K-$75K

8.1%

$75K-$100K

12.5%

$100K-$125K

11.3%

$125K-$150K

8.3%

$150K-$200K

8.7%

$200K+

7.2%

Employment

7.4% Unemployment Rate State: 6.6%|National: 5.2%

60.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 50.5%

Renter 49.5%

Affordability Index Very Expensive

8.2x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,752/mo 28.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

24.3%

18-34

23.1%

35-54

24.8%

55-74

21.4%

75+

6.4%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 70 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

South El Monte Rankings in California

#359 Population of 1,570

#929 Median Income of 1,375

#1266 Education of 1,570

#629 Home Value of 1,376

Explore California Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Los Angeles County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Los Angeles	3,857,263	$81,939	16.6%	$921,200
Long Beach	455,548	$87,430	14.8%	$806,600
Santa Clarita	230,221	$123,062	7.4%	$784,700
Glendale	190,748	$88,393	12.9%	$1,102,300
Lancaster	169,169	$81,511	15.6%	$446,600
Palmdale	164,634	$81,770	15.7%	$471,000
Pomona	147,943	$79,479	14.3%	$593,800
Torrance	142,130	$116,217	7.8%	$1,074,700
Pasadena	136,969	$105,192	13.3%	$1,093,300
East Los Angeles	111,647	$68,741	17.3%	$643,100

Cities Similar to South El Monte

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Stanford	18,662	$75,208	$2,000,000+	92.3%	15.9%
Chowchilla	19,020	$66,514	$364,000	15.6%	19.6%
Valle Vista	18,602	$66,825	$336,200	15.5%	16.7%
Mead Valley	19,286	$86,795	$446,200	10.5%	9.6%
Phelan	18,496	$79,914	$386,800	12.4%	12.7%

Population Overview

South El Monte is a small city located in California, within Los Angeles County. The total population is 19,287. It ranks as the 359th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in South El Monte is 37.2 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 37.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in South El Monte is $72,990. This is 26% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 10% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.9%. This is 74% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 7.4%. This is 12% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $601,000. Housing costs are 18% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.2x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 50.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% lower than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in South El Monte is Hispanic or Latino, making up 74.3% of the population. Asian residents account for 20.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (3.4%) is well below the state average of 33.8%. The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (74.3% vs 40.2%).

Education

10.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 72% lower than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 55.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for South El Monte, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of South El Monte, California?

South El Monte, California has a population of 19,287 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in South El Monte, CA?

The median household income in South El Monte is $72,990, which is 10% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in South El Monte, CA?

The poverty rate in South El Monte is 20.9%. This means approximately 4,023 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of South El Monte, California?

South El Monte's population is 3.4% White, 0.9% Black, 74.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 20.5% Asian.

What is the median home value in South El Monte, CA?

The median home value in South El Monte is $601,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 8.2x.

How educated is South El Monte, California?

10.5% of adults (25+) in South El Monte hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.