West Carson, California Income Statistics
West Carson Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
B
West Carson Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | West Carson | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $93,934 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $63,972 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.4% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 13.9% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 14.9% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in West Carson is about 5% lower than in California. Income has been growing slower in West Carson (4.4%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 14% of adults in West Carson earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in West Carson, California grew by 40.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $93,934 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in West Carson
| Metric | West Carson | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.538 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $68,905 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $70,300 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | -2.0% | 12.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In West Carson, it is 0.538, lower than California's 0.572, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Women's income is about 2% more than men's income in West Carson, California. Over a 35-year career, a 2% wage gap accumulates to roughly $48,825 in unearned income for male workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in West Carson, California has narrowed from about 3% to -2% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 4% in 2019, and in 2015 women out-earned men by 8%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,958 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | West Carson | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.8% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 625 people are unemployed in West Carson, California.
The average commute time in West Carson is 23 minutes, about the same as in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in West Carson, California has fallen from 9.8% to 5.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.7% in 2012 and fell as low as 4.3% in 2020.
West Carson, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
West Carson, CA is the 4th largest of the 5 cities compared here, 22,143 residents against a local median of 75,735. West Carson, CA's income growth, at 4.4%/yr, runs 18% below the 5.4%/yr typical of the cities around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The cities themselves spread 2.4%/yr on income growth, so West Carson, CA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. West Carson, CA has the 5th highest income growth of the 5 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Carson, CA | 22,143 | $93,934 #4/5 | 4.4%/yr #5/5 | 5.4% #2/5 | 0.538 #2/5 |
| Lomita, CA | 20,223 | $95,911 | 5.5%/yr | 4.6% | 0.566 |
| Carson, CA | 92,071 | $109,874 | 5.2%/yr | 7.7% | 0.570 |
| Torrance, CA | 139,758 | $116,831 | 4.6%/yr | 6.0% | 0.537 |
| Gardena, CA | 59,400 | $85,893 | 7.0%/yr | 6.1% | 0.547 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, West Carson, California has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than California, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in West Carson, California.
How Rich Is West Carson, California?
West Carson has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $93,934, about 5% lower than the California average of $99,161.
Are incomes growing in West Carson, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in West Carson, California rose 41%, from $66,855 to $93,934. Over the same years, income here lagged behind California as a whole: +41% against +64%.
What was the median household income in West Carson in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in West Carson, California was $96,679, up 1% from $95,317 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in West Carson in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in West Carson, California was $77,955. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $93,934.
What is the Gini coefficient in West Carson, California?
The Gini coefficient in West Carson is 0.538. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in West Carson, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in West Carson, California has narrowed from about 3% to -2% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 4% in 2019, and in 2015 women out-earned men by 8%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,958 since 2009.
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