LA County · 8 Community College Districts · 2015–2024
Every year, someone gets pushed out.
This is a story told entirely through real, live data.
—
Total residents · 8 districts · 2024
$2,402
Highest median rent · Santa Monica · 2024
$1,551
Lowest median rent · South Gate · 2024
$53,839
Income gap · Pasadena vs South Gate · 2024
Scroll to begin
02 Who Lives Here — LA County Age Distribution · ACS 2020–2024
28.8% of LA County in their peak renting years.
The 25–44 age cohort — roughly 2.9 million people — represents the group most exposed to rental market pressure. Source: ACS Table B01001, Los Angeles County.
Age distribution · LA County · ACS 2020–2024 · Table B01001
← Male | Female → | Red = peak renter ages
Cohort Spotlight Ages 25–34
14.9%
of LA County population · ACS 2020–2024, Table B01001
The largest single adult cohort in the county. These residents are renters by necessity — and the medianRent data shows every district they live in saw rent climb over 47% since 2016.
Direct from the income table. Pasadena (CCD 5) and South Gate–East LA (CCD 8) sit in the same county but exist in entirely different economies. The gap grew by $10,723 since 2016.
South Gate–East LA · CCD 8 · 95.3% Hispanic
$66,711
Median household income · 2024 · 37.9% earn under $50k/yr
Under $25k
16.8%
$25k–$50k
21.1%
Over $100k
30.0%
Pasadena · CCD 5 · 26.7% Hispanic
$120,550
Median household income · 2024 · 57.5% earn over $100k/yr
Under $25k
11.3%
$25k–$50k
10.4%
Over $100k
57.5%
Income Gap · Pasadena vs South Gate · $0Was $43,116 in 2016 — gap grew by $10,723 over 8 years
04 Rent Growth 2016→2024 ·
Every district saw rent climb over 47%.
Long Beach–Lakewood led at +61.5%. South Gate, the most affordable district, still rose +50.9%.
South Gate context: Income grew +68.0% ($39,707→$66,711) vs rent +50.9% ($1,028→$1,551). But the 37.9% earning under $50k didn't share equally in that income growth — for them rent consumed a rising share of income.
South Gate–East LA · CCD 8 · Rent Burden · 2024
0%
of median household income spent on median rent · South Gate 2024
South Gate
27.9% · $66,711 income
Pasadena
22.8% · $120,550 income
← $1,551/mo South Gate median rent vs $2,294/mo Pasadena →
Households earning $35k–$50k · South Gate · 12.4% of district
43–53%
of income spent on rent · HUD cost-burden threshold: 30%
06 Scenario Modeler — What Would Change?
What would it take to close the gap?
Drag to model how policy interventions would affect the gap between South Gate and Pasadena.
Adjust the scenario (modeled estimates)
Pasadena median income$120,550
South Gate median income$66,711
Gap (2024 real: $53,839)
$53,839
Preset scenarios (modeled estimates)
Minimum wage increase to $25/hr
South Gate median → ~$78k · Gap → ~$43k · Modeled estimate
Rent stabilization policy
Effective income relief equivalent · Gap → ~$49k · Modeled estimate
2024 baseline — real data
Gap = $53,839
The data is clear.
The question is what we do with it.
28.8% of LA County residents are in peak renter age brackets (25–44) — roughly 2.9 million people facing rising rents across all 8 districts.
The income gap between Pasadena and South Gate grew from $43,116 in 2016 to $53,839 in 2024 — a $10,723 increase in inequality over 8 years.
37.9% of South Gate households earn under $50,000/year — placing them at or above HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold on the district's $1,551/month median rent.