West Carson, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

West Carson is a small city located in California, within Los Angeles County. The total population is 22,143. It ranks as the 330th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in West Carson is 45.2 years. This is 19% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. 10.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in West Carson is $92,775. This is 6% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 15% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.8%. This is 27% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 18% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $689,700. Housing costs are 6% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.4x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 70.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

West Carson is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Asian residents account for 36.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (12.9%) is well below the state average of 33.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (8.5% vs 5.2%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (36.3% vs 15.3%).

Education

36.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is about the same as 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 86.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for West Carson, 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.