Is Los Alamitos Safe, Pros and cons of living in Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos, California, offers a blend of suburban tranquility and convenient access to Southern California’s vibrant urban centers. This Orange County city provides a balanced lifestyle, appealing to those seeking a community feel with proximity to major employment hubs and recreational opportunities. Its location makes it a desirable place to live for families and professionals alike.
The city is known for its well-regarded school system and a generally safe environment, contributing to its appeal. Residents often praise the community’s friendly atmosphere and the availability of local amenities. Los Alamitos aims to provide a high quality of life for its inhabitants, balancing residential comfort with access to regional attractions.
Is it Safe to Live in Los Alamitos?
Los Alamitos presents a crime rate that is 3% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents (according to AreaVibes). The city experiences an average of 0.72 daily crimes, with 0.12 of those being violent incidents and 0.6 property-related offenses (according to AreaVibes). While the overall crime rate is slightly above the national average, violent crime rates are actually 2.1% lower than the national average (according to AreaVibes).
Property crime in Los Alamitos is higher than the national average, with 1833 property crimes per 100,000 people, which is 4.2% higher than the national average (according to AreaVibes). The crime rate is 38.09 per 1,000 residents in a typical year (according to CrimeGrade.org). Residents generally consider the south part of the city to be the safest, with the chance of being a victim of crime ranging from 1 in 11 in northern neighborhoods to 1 in 36 in the south (according to CrimeGrade.org).
Cost of Living in Los Alamitos
The cost of living in Los Alamitos is significantly higher than the national average. Overall, Los Alamitos is 86% higher than the national average (according to AreaVibes). Housing costs are a major contributor to this elevated cost, being 31.4% higher than the national average (according to Salary.com).
For a single person, monthly expenses in Los Alamitos are estimated at $2,886, while a family of four can expect to spend around $6,134 per month (according to Salary.com). Transportation, food, and healthcare costs also contribute to the higher cost of living, though food expenses are slightly below the US average (according to Salary.com).
Housing Costs
Housing in Los Alamitos comes with a substantial price tag. The median home value in Los Alamitos was $961,875 as of November 2025 (according to Livability.com). More recent data indicates that the median home price in Los Alamitos hovers around $850,000 (according to Rick J Lee Homes). As of April 2026, the median listing home price was $1,568,444 (according to Realtor.com®), and in April 2026, homes sold for a median price of $1,649,000 (according to Movoto).
Rental prices are also on the higher side. The average rent in Los Alamitos is $2,595 per month (according to Zumper), with one-bedroom apartments averaging around $2,250 and two-bedroom apartments averaging $2,600 (according to Zumper). As of May 2026, the average rent was $2,494 per month, which is 52% higher than the national average (according to Apartments.com).
Average Salary and Income
The median household income in Los Alamitos was $97,155 in 2024 (according to Census Reporter). More recent data from May 2026 indicates an average hourly wage of $121.85, translating to an annual salary of $253,453 (according to ZipRecruiter). However, other sources suggest a median wage of $54.1K per year, with a 25th percentile around $40.8K and a 75th percentile around $76.6K (according to ZipRecruiter).
The average yearly salary in Los Alamitos stands at $73,544, with many residents earning between $50,000 and $110,000 annually (according to ReadySetHire). For employees of the Los Alamitos Unified School District, the average salary in 2026 is $83,600 (according to PayScale).
Unemployment Rate
While specific unemployment data for Los Alamitos is not readily available in the provided search results, broader regional data can offer context. For example, Orange County, where Los Alamitos is located, generally has a lower unemployment rate than the national average. The socioeconomic risk score for Los Alamitos indicates a low unemployment rate, with the county having a 2.9% unemployment rate in 2018, compared to the national average of 4.13% at that time (according to Augurisk).
Climate in Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos enjoys a Mediterranean climate characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Throughout the year, temperatures typically range from 47°F to 85°F (according to myPerfectWeather). The warmest month is August, with average highs of 85°F and lows of 66°F, while December is the coldest, with average highs of 68°F and lows of 47°F (according to myPerfectWeather).
Annual precipitation averages around 13 inches (according to myPerfectWeather). February is typically the wettest month, receiving about 3 inches of rain (according to myPerfectWeather). Conversely, July is the driest month, with virtually no rainfall. The city experiences significant seasonal variation in monthly rainfall, with a rainy period from October to April.
Education in Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos is home to a highly-rated public school system. The Los Alamitos Unified School District consistently ranks among the best in California, earning an A+ grade from Niche (according to Patch). The district ranked 23rd out of 300 California school districts in Niche’s rankings (according to Patch).
Public schools in Los Alamitos demonstrate strong academic performance, with an average math proficiency score of 65% and a reading proficiency score of 80% (according to Niche). Several elementary schools, including Jack L. Weaver Elementary and Richard Henry Lee Elementary, are recognized as top-ranking schools within the state (according to SchoolDigger.com).
School Ratings
The public schools in Los Alamitos are highly regarded, with an average ranking of 10/10, placing them in the top 5% of California public schools (according to Niche). Schools like Jack L. Weaver Elementary School, Francis Hopkinson Elementary School, and Richard Henry Lee Elementary School are among the top-ranked in the state (according to Niche). Oak Middle School is also noted as a standout middle school (according to SchoolDigger.com).
The Los Alamitos Unified School District has a student-teacher ratio of 25 to 1, and 67% of students are proficient in math, while 79% are proficient in reading (according to Patch). Los Alamitos High School maintains an excellent 97% graduation rate (according to SchoolDigger.com).
Demographics of Los Alamitos
As of the 2020 census, Los Alamitos had a population of 11,780 (according to Wikipedia). The city’s racial makeup was 53.3% White, 3.3% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 17.8% Asian, 0.6% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, with 8.5% from other races and 15.6% from two or more races (according to Wikipedia). Hispanic or Latino residents comprised 25.7% of the population (according to Wikipedia).
More recent demographic data indicates that the largest racial/ethnic groups in Los Alamitos are White (42.2%), followed by Hispanic (31.3%) and Asian (17.1%) (according to Census Reporter). The median age in Los Alamitos is 37.2 years (according to Population 2026). For every 100 females, there are approximately 85.4 males (according to Population 2026).
Major Employers
Los Alamitos hosts a variety of major employers, contributing to its diverse job market. Los Alamitos Medical Center is a significant healthcare provider in the area (according to Indeed.com). Tenet Healthcare, a large healthcare services company, also has a presence and employs a substantial number of individuals (according to Indeed.com and Lensa).
Other notable employers include Costco Wholesale, McDonald’s, Target, Starbucks, and Amazon.com, reflecting a mix of retail, service, and corporate opportunities within the city and its surrounding areas (according to Indeed.com). The presence of these companies offers residents a range of employment options across different sectors.