CommerceMontageCA, 2011
Commerce’s story
66 years in pictures
Census counts: 9,555 in 1960, 12,378 in 2020. The archive holds 21 old photos and papers going back to 1923 and a map from 1901 on.
- 1960Commerce is settled
CommerceCA
A town of 11,688, settled in 1960. A regional job hub with 44,133 jobs.
7 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Justefrain · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
11,688
2025 Census estimate · −5.5% since 2020
Typical home
$695K
+1.7% in a year
Household income
$77K
median
Median age
35.6
years
Jobs based here
44,133
A job hub
TownGrade
D
#679 of 841 in CA
Is Commerce a good place to live?
Commerce grades D overall, 679th among California's 841 graded towns, mostly because of safety. It reports more crime per resident than 100% of U.S. towns, including 150 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. In its favor, it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 96% of U.S. towns. Commerce’s level of violent crime is 12.7 per 1,000 residents, against 2.9 in California’s towns and 1.6 across U.S. towns. No town among the 437 in California we compare has a higher level of property crime than Commerce. FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 87% of U.S. communities, with earthquakes at the top.
What makes Commerce stand out
Where Commerce beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here44,133
Residents who work4,858
Work
9.1 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 99% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
WalkabilityA+
More walkable than 96% of U.S. towns
7.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Commerce12.7
California4.4
U.S.3.3
Worth knowing · SafetyD−
More crime per resident than 99% of U.S. towns
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
A job hub
Every workday, about 43,561 people come to Commerce for work
Where Commerce’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
44,133jobs based in Commerce
12%of working residents work in town
8 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Commerce grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Commerce is from typical.
Its grades run from A+ for walkability (better than 96% of comparable towns) to D− for safety (better than 1%), so the D overall blends very different results.
SafetyMore crime per resident than almost any U.S. townD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 13.9 of 20; 13.1% of households have no carA+Open →Hazard riskearthquakes tops the listDOpen →Cost of livingDOpen →SchoolsCOpen →Jobs & incomeB+Open →HealthLos Angeles Community Hospital 2.7 miles awayCOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 1% conserved landCOpen →History5 notable people born hereDOpen →Civic life4.4 library visits per resident; 3.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 87° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 35.6; 11% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 275 attractions →SoFi Stadium and 241 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Commerce. Close and well known come first.
Big draw11 mi Stadium & arenaSoFi Stadium
Big draw13 mi LandmarkHollywood Walk of Fame10.0M visitors a year
Big draw8 mi MuseumLucas Museum of Narrative Art
Big draw18 mi Theme parkDisneyland17.3M visitors a year
Big draw8 mi Stadium & arenaLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Big draw8 mi Stadium & arenaCrypto.com ArenaSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
SoFi Stadium: Thank You (21 Millions+) views, CC BY 2.0 · Hollywood Walk of Fame: BenSherman, Public domain · Lucas Museum of Narrative Art: Kriddl, CC0 · Disneyland: HarshLight from San Jose, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: CanonStarGal, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Crypto.com Arena: Troutfarm27, CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Commerce: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Commerce, and how to reach them.
PowerSouthern California Edison31.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCommerce-City, Water Dept.No health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offSouth Gate Transfer Station, 4 miOpenStreetMap
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereLos Angeles Registrar-Recorder County ClerkLos Angeles County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP codes90040, 9002290040 92% · 90022 7%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Commerce.
Commerce draws workers from Los Angeles and beyond and has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns, but it reports violent crime at 3 times the California rate.
SafetyD−
More crime per resident than almost any U.S. town
Violent crime runs at 12.7 per 1,000 residents, 3 times the California rate; the Safety Grade counts each violent crime four times, so this weighs most on its D−. Each of the 4 graded towns on its borders reports less crime per resident, from Los Angeles (D) to Bell Gardens (C).
Commerce reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 100% report less.
1%of U.S. towns report more crimeD−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Commerce12.7
California4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Commerce107.9
California18.2
U.S.15.5
1st
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
1st
percentile among CA towns
150
violent crimes reported in 2025
1,271
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsC
On state tests, Commerce’s schools trail 68% of California districts
Of its 3 schools, two are listed below, each with the reason. Public schools: the Montebello Unified school district. The 3 public schools in Commerce teach 909 students between them.
32%of CA districts it outscoresCSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosewood ParkLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 585 | C− |
| Kirby Dorothy CampLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 64 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
About one in eight working residents works right in Commerce
44,133 jobs are based in Commerce, 9.1 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in.
Half the trips to work are shorter than 8 miles. For Commerce, the middle household income is $77,000. Commuting out is the norm in the town: 12% of working residents work locally. The top destinations are Los Angeles (25%), Montebello (3%) and Vernon (3%).
12%work in town
| Commerce | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 9.1% | 14% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 12% | 6.6% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12% | 10% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $77,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Commerce12%
Los Angeles25%
Montebello3%
Vernon3%
Santa Fe Springs2%
8 mi
median commute distance
44,133
jobs based in Commerce
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 96% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Commerce has a very high natural-hazard risk, chiefly from earthquakes
The national flood insurance program has paid one claim in Commerce since 1983. Expected losses in Commerce break down as 89% from earthquakes and 11% from inland flooding. Households in the town have drawn federal disaster aid in 3 declared disasters, most recently in 2025.
87risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland flooding
1
paid flood claims since 1983
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthC
Residents of Commerce are less healthy than 66% of U.S. towns
For adults in Commerce, the share who have diabetes is 15%. This California town beats the California average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 15. 43% of adults in Commerce feel lonely; 30% worry about having enough food.
34%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade
| Commerce | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 22% | 19% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 36% | 33% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 16% | 14% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 9% | 8.1% |
32 measures vs. California
2 better15 too close to call15 worse
| What stands out | Commerce | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 4.5% | 6.4% |
| Fewer adults with arthritis | 18.6% | 20.8% |
| More uninsured adults | 21.8% | 10.6% |
Los Angeles Community Hospital
2.7 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
26th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Commerce has mild winters and pleasant summers
January nights average 46.8°, milder than in 97% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 85.3°.
The town’s January low stands at 47°F. Snow is almost unheard of.
87°summer high
| Commerce | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 47°F | 40°F | 22°F |
| July high | 85°F | 89°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter47–69°
Spring53–74°
Summer63–84°
Fall57–81°
+2.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
87°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade D
The typical home in Commerce: about $695K
Home values are up 1.7% over the year to September 2026. In Commerce, 55% of households live in a home they own. Its midpoint rent comes in at $1,549 a month.
$695KZillow home value
| Commerce | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 55% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,549 a month | $1,898 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Commerce$695K
California$762K
+1.7%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
OutdoorsC
Protected land: 0.9% of Commerce
In 4 parks and preserves, walkers have 0.7 miles of trail. Commerce’s trail density is 0.1 miles per square mile.
0.9%conserved
| Commerce | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 0.9% | 4.3% | 4.3% |
0.9%
conserved · 36 of 4,163 acres
0.7 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Bristow Park | 0.7 mi | 11 |
| 2. Veterans Memorial Park | — | 9 |
| 3. Rosewood Park | — | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Commerce
20pages on Commerce
The big questions
SchoolsCBehind 68% of CA districts · 3 schoolsSafetyD−12.7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthCBetter than CA on 2 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD$695K typical home · up 1.7% in a yearWork & commuteB+$77K median household income · 44,133 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 87% of U.S. communities · earthquakes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
67 within 15 miles of the center of Commerce
East Los Angeles CollegeCommunity college · Public · Monterey Park3.2 mi$1,238 in-state tuitionCalifornia State University-Los AngelesUniversity or college · Public · Los Angeles5.1 mi$7,160 in-state tuitionUniversity of the WestUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Rosemead5.2 mi$15,446 tuition
About 10 of every 100 Commerce residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
Famous people from Commerce
5 notable people were born in Commerce.
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About Commerce
City in California, United States
Commerce is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 12,378 at the 2020 census, down from 12,823 at the 2010 census. It is usually referred to as the City of Commerce to distinguish it from the common noun. It is bordered by Vernon on the west, Los Angeles on the northwest, East Los Angeles on the north, Montebello on the east, Downey and Bell Gardens on the south, and Maywood on the southwest. The Los Angeles River forms part of its southwestern boundary, and the Rio Hondo separates it from Downey. Commerce is served by the Long Beach and Santa Ana freeways, as well as the Metrolink commuter rail service at the Commerce station.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1960
- Area
- 6.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 141 ft
- ZIP code
- 90022, 90023, 90040
- Area code
- 323
Commerce’s neighbors
7 towns share a border with Commerce.
MontebelloEast Los AngelesBellBell GardensVernonDowneyLos AngelesCommerce
How the neighbors grade
| Town | CA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commerce | #679 | D | D | D− | C | C |
| Montebello | #680 | D | D− | D | C | B− |
| East Los Angeles | #574 | D | D | — | B− | C− |
| Bell | #690 | D | D | C− | B− | C− |
| Bell Gardens | #726 | D− | D | C | C | D |
| Vernon | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Downey | #257 | C+ | D− | — | B+ | B |
| Los Angeles | #613 | D | D− | D | B− | B− |
East Los Angeles and Downey report no FBI crime data of their own. Vernon isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Commerce with a neighbor →
Questions about Commerce
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Commerce, CA a good place to live?
Commerce grades D overall, better than 6% of U.S. towns and #679 of 841 in California. It grades C for health, D− for safety and C for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Commerce, CA expensive?
Yes. That is 7.2 years of the area's median household income ($95,958 across the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.
What is Commerce, CA known for?
5 notable people were born here, including Patty Cardenas and Ricardo Lara.