Signal Hill, 1923
Signal Hill’s story
102 years in pictures
Census counts: 2,932 in 1930, 11,848 in 2020. The archive holds 9 old photos and papers going back to 1921 and 7 maps from 1896 on.
- 1924Signal Hill is settled
Signal HillCA
A town of 11,153, settled in 1924. A regional job hub with 13,297 jobs.
Trash day: look up yoursPhoto: Mike Greene · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
11,153
2025 Census estimate · −5.9% since 2020
Typical home
$700K
+0.1% in a year
Household income
$113K
median
Median age
41.9
years
Jobs based here
13,297
A job hub
TownGrade
C
#441 of 841 in CA
Is Signal Hill a good place to live?
Signal Hill's crime rate is higher than 98% of U.S. towns, with 60 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. Overall it grades C, 441st of 841 graded towns in California. The median household earns $113K and residents are healthier than 81% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. Its weakest subject is cost of living: homes are expensive, about $700K for a typical one and 7.3 times the Los Angeles metro’s $96K median household income. Signal Hill’s property crime rate is 50.2 per 1,000 residents, above both California’s towns (13.3) and U.S. towns (9.9). On safety, just 11 of California’s 426 towns do worse. Signal Hill is home to American University of Health Sciences.
What makes Signal Hill stand out
Where Signal Hill beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here13,297
Residents who work6,898
Work
1.9 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 92% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 83% of U.S. towns
2.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Signal Hill5.4
California4.4
U.S.3.3
Worth knowing · SafetyD−
23% more violent crime than CA
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
A job hub
Every workday, about 12,988 people come to Signal Hill for work
Where Signal Hill’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
13,297jobs based in Signal Hill
4%of working residents work in town
16 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Signal Hill grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Signal Hill is from typical.
SafetyD−Open →Cost of livingD−Open →Hazard riskearthquakes tops the listDOpen →Jobs & incomeA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 11 of 20; 2.8% of households have no carA−Open →HealthCollege Medical Center 1.4 miles awayA−Open →SchoolsBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 3% conserved landBOpen →History1 notable person born hereC−Open →Civic life13.5 library visits per resident; 4.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 80° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market$700K typical home, up 0.1% in a year; 26 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 41.9; 37% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 270 attractions →SoFi Stadium and 235 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Signal Hill. Close and well known come first.
Big draw14 mi Stadium & arenaSoFi Stadium
Big draw14 mi Theme parkDisneyland17.3M visitors a year
Big draw8 mi MuseumUSS Iowa
Big draw23 mi LandmarkHollywood Walk of Fame10.0M visitors a year
Big draw16 mi MuseumLucas Museum of Narrative Art
Big draw16 mi Stadium & arenaLos Angeles Memorial ColiseumSources: 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 · Disneyland: HarshLight from San Jose, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 · USS Iowa: PH1 Jeff Hilton, Public domain · Hollywood Walk of Fame: BenSherman, Public domain · Lucas Museum of Narrative Art: Kriddl, CC0 · Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: CanonStarGal, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Signal Hill: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Signal Hill, and how to reach them.
PowerSouthern California Edison31.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterSignal Hill - City, Water Dept.5 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers95% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site
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 code9075590755 100%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 Signal Hill.
Signal Hill draws workers from Long Beach and beyond and has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns, but it reports property crime at 3 times the California rate.
SafetyD−
Signal Hill earns a D− for safety
Property crime runs at 50.2 per 1,000 residents, 3 times the California rate, most of it theft.
Signal Hill’s violent crime rate is 5.4 per 1,000 residents. Signal Hill reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 98% report less.
2%of U.S. towns report more crimeD−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Signal Hill5.4
California4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Signal Hill50.2
California18.2
U.S.15.5
2nd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
2nd
percentile among CA towns
60
violent crimes reported in 2025
560
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsB
Signal Hill’s schools rank ahead of 58% of California districts
Its public schools are run by the Long Beach Unified school district. One of its 3 schools is below, with why it’s listed.
58%of CA districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jessie Nelson AcademyLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 832 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Most working residents commute out of Signal Hill
13,297 jobs are based in Signal Hill, 1.9 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in.
Most working residents leave Signal Hill for work: only 4% work in town. The average trip to work in Signal Hill is 31 minutes. The top destinations are Los Angeles (20%), Long Beach (14%) and Irvine (3%).
4%work in town
| Signal Hill | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 20% | 14% | 11% |
| Average trip to work | 31 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $113,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 7.1% | 10% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Signal Hill4%
Los Angeles20%
Long Beach14%
Irvine3%
Torrance3%
16 mi
median commute distance
13,297
jobs based in Signal Hill
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 83% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthA−
Signal Hill earns an A− for health
Against the 6,701 U.S. towns with household incomes like Signal Hill’s, it is healthier than 64%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
40% of Signal Hill adults feel lonely. Signal Hill beats the California average on 13 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 25% of Signal Hill adults have obesity.
81%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Signal Hill | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 36% | 33% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 29% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 22% | 23% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 31% | 35% |
32 measures vs. California
13 better17 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Signal Hill | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7.4% | 10.6% |
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| More adults lacking emotional support | 31.2% | 28.6% |
College Medical Center
1.4 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: dental
71st
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Earthquakes leads a very high hazard risk in Signal Hill
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 80% of U.S. communities. Since 1998, 3 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Signal Hill.
80risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland flooding
3
paid flood claims since 1998
8
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
#505for trails in CA
| Signal Hill | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.6 miles per square mile | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.2% | 4.3% | 4.3% |
3.2%
conserved · 45 of 1,403 acres
1.3 mi
of trails · 0.6 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Signal Hill Park | 0.3 mi | 9 |
| 2. Discovery Well Park | — | 5 |
| 3. Hilltop Park | 0.1 mi | 4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Signal Hill has mild winters and pleasant summers
January nights average 47.8°, milder than in 98% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 77.7°.
Signal Hill has warm winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. Snow is almost unheard of.
80°summer high
| Signal Hill | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 78°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 48°F | 40°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter48–67°
Spring54–70°
Summer62–77°
Fall58–76°
+2.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
80°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than California overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 45% of residents (39% statewide). 18% of residents are under 18 in Signal Hill. Signal Hill has lost 5.9% of its people since 2020, down to 11,153 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
41.9median age · CA 37.9
| Signal Hill | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 18% | 22% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 13% | 16% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 37% | 29% | 29% |
| Median age | 41.9 years | 39 years | 40.5 years |
Signal HillCaliforniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
19%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma12%
High school14%
Some college29%
Associate’s8%
Bachelor’s24%
Graduate14%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.9 points. Across California, 50.1% of residents are women.
| Signal Hill | CA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.3% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.8% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.4% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 16.8% | 14.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13% | 13.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 19.3% | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.8% | 12.1% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 6.8% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.8% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 12.1% | 15.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 13.5% | 20.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 29% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.2% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 23.7% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 13.5% | 14.4% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HousingCost of living grade D−
Signal Hill earns a D− for cost of living
The typical Signal Hill home is worth about $700,000, about the same as a year ago, 8% below the California typical home.
$700KZillow home value
| Signal Hill | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 50% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,851 a month | $1,898 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Signal Hill$700K
California$762K
Market temperature
26
days on market
99%
sale-to-list price
+0.1%
value change, 1 year
10
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Signal Hill
20pages on Signal Hill
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 58% of CA districts · 3 schoolsSafetyD−5.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than CA on 13 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD−$700K typical home · up 0.1% in a yearWork & commuteA−$113K median household income · 13,297 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 80% of U.S. communities · earthquakes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
28 within 15 miles of the center of Signal Hill
American University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Signal HillIn town$24,575 tuitionLong Beach City CollegeCommunity college · Public · Long Beach2.9 mi$1,556 in-state tuitionCalifornia State University-Long BeachUniversity or college · Public · Long Beach3.6 mi$7,350 in-state tuition
About 8 of every 100 Signal Hill residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California.
College town
American University of Health Sciences calls Signal Hill home
College Scorecard · IPEDS
About Signal Hill
City in California, United States
Signal Hill is a city 2.2 mi2 (5.7 km2) in area in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Partially high on an eponymous hill, the city is an enclave completely surrounded by the city of Long Beach. Signal Hill was incorporated on April 22, 1924, roughly three years after oil was discovered there. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,848, up from 11,016 at the 2010 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1924
- Area
- 2.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 148 ft
- ZIP code
- 90755
Questions about Signal Hill
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Signal Hill, CA a good place to live?
Signal Hill grades C overall, better than 26% of U.S. towns and #441 of 841 in California. It grades A− for health, D− for safety and B for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Signal Hill, CA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.