Cost of living answer

Cost of Living in Compton, CA

Cost of Living in Compton, CA has an overall index of 148, 48% above the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $628,533; typical monthly rent is $1,601; and median household income is $74,270.

Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 metro-area price parities. Home value: Zillow ZHVI market signal as of 2026-02. Rent: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.

Cost vs U.S.48% aboveOverall modeled index 148
Typical rent$1,601/moCensus ACS
Typical home value$628,533Zillow ZHVI
Median household income$74,270Census ACS place estimate
Market PressureHigh

Home prices are the main source of pressure. This describes the local market, not your household.

Rent pressure
26%
Typical annual rent divided by local median household income.
Buy pressure
8.5x
Typical home value divided by local median household income.
Your Household Fit

Can your household carry the housing cost?

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Your household inputs
Are you renting or buying?
Advanced assumptions
Initial rent input: $1,601 from ACS. Edit it to match the housing option you are considering.
Mortgage benchmark: 6.11% 30-year fixed, Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey via FRED, as of 2026-03-12. Not a lender quote or approval.
Property-tax input: State-level effective owner-occupied property-tax proxy Not a parcel or individual tax-bill estimate.

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Your Household FitNot calculated yet

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City details

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Overall cost index148100 = U.S. baseline
Goods1077% above baseline
Services1044% above baseline
Utilities15959% above baseline
Frequently asked questions about Compton

Living in Compton

Is Compton, CA an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Compton is about 48% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 148. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $628,533, and monthly rents average roughly $1,601. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run higher than average as well.

How does Compton fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,601, while local median household income is $74,270. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 26% before utilities and other costs. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.

How much are taxes in Compton, CA?+

California uses a progressive model; 13.3% is top marginal-rate context. Applying the 0.71% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $628,533 gives a planning estimate near $4,463 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is around 8.85%.

How much does it cost to rent in Compton, CA?+

The typical monthly rent in Compton is around $1,601. That's about 19% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $628,533, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Compton, CA?+

The typical home value in Compton is $628,533. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $3,050/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. About 57% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Compton?+

Grocery prices in Compton are noticeably pricier compared to the rest of the US (index: 107, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are on the high side (index: 159). Both add meaningful weight to your monthly budget here.

What is Compton, CA like to live in?+

Compton is a smaller city with a population of about 93,525. The median age of residents is 33.9, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 17.07%, above the national average of 12.4%.