Downey, CA: Local News, Events & Neighbors

Downey is a city in southeastern Los Angeles County, California, United States, 13 mi (21 km) southeast of Downtown Los Angeles. It is considered part of the Gateway Cities. The city is the birthplace of the Apollo space program and Taco Bell. It is also the home of the oldest operating McDonald's restaurant in the world. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 114,355.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Downey ranks

All →

#2Closest to a top hospital in CA #99Lowest depression in CA #235Fewest smokers in CA All CA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code90239, 90240, 90241

Area code562

Living in Downey

Housing in Downey

$879K▲ 2.3% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Downey home is worth about $879,000, up 2.3% in a year, 15% above the California typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market29

Sale-to-list102.1%

Sold in May26

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Downey

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Downey's police department reported only 2023 and 2025, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Downey 3

California 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Downey 21.8

California 18.2

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Downey

B

Health Grade B

Healthier than 61% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with California

6better than CA·8worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 18 are too close to call.

Conditions 6▲ 6 close Habits all close Care 2▼ 5 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 3▼ 1 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

5%Fewer adults who have had cancerCA 6.4% · better 4%Fewer adults with COPDCA 5.1% · better 14.8%More uninsured adultsCA 10.6% · worse

Care nearby

Pih Health Downey HospitalDowney · 0.2 mi · ER

Wesley Health Centers - DowneyDowney · 0.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Downey · CMS · HRSAHealth in Downey →

Schools in Downey

All Downey schools →

A⁻

School Grade A-

The public schools Downey’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 76% of California’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

DistrictDowney UnifiedSchools29

Rio Hondo ElementaryElementary · Grades K–5 · 838 students Lewis (Ed C.) ElementaryElementary · Grades K–5 · 810 students Carpenter (C. C.) ElementaryElementary · Grades K–5 · 796 students Gallatin ElementaryElementary · Grades K–5 · 788 students Price (Maude) ElementaryElementary · Grades K–5 · 757 students Rio San Gabriel ElementaryElementary · Grades K–5 · 747 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within CA. Ratings are from neighbors.