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South Gate vs Downey

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: trails (4.3× in Downey) and property tax bill (+35% in Downey).

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South Gate, CAOne of the healthiest townsCalifornia · 91,483 people
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Downey, CAHometown of 64 notable peopleCalifornia · 110,939 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

South GateOne of the healthiest towns
Health69% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Outdoors#197 most walkable in CA2.9 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves SafetySafer than 8%of U.S. towns we grade All about South Gate →
DowneyHometown of 64 notable people
Famous people64 notable peopleborn in Downey HealthHealthier than 61%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Outdoors#99 most walkable in CA13 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves All about Downey →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Trails4.3×
Downey has more miles of trail
Downey 12.6 miSouth Gate 2.9 mi
Property tax bill+35%
Tax bills are bigger in Downey
Downey $5,323South Gate $3,932
Rent+27%
Rent runs higher in Downey
Downey $1,937South Gate $1,531
Home values+25%
Homes cost more in Downey
Downey $796,600South Gate $636,300
Bachelor’s degree++14.8 pts
More adults in Downey have a degree
Downey 26.1%South Gate 11.3%
Household income+22%
Households in Downey earn more
Downey $90,699South Gate $74,571
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,110 more a month in Downey

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

South Gate$3,990/mo
Typical home $693K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.62% · or rent about $1,531/mo · Housing →
Downey$5,100/mo
Typical home $879K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.67% · or rent about $1,937/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,110 a month, about $13,300 a year, between Downey and South Gate.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Downey places higher on 14 of 20 CA lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
DSouth GateSafer than 8% of U.S. towns –DowneyNot graded
Schools
B−South GateBetter than 49% of districts in the state A−DowneyBetter than 76% of districts in the state
Health
CSouth GateHealthier than 31% of U.S. towns BDowneyHealthier than 61% of U.S. towns
5South Gate
14Downey

Lists won, of 20 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Most educatedPeople · 844 towns #739#474 Most trailsOutdoors · 677 towns #578#381 HealthiestHealth · 844 towns #650#431 Cheapest rentCost of living · 830 towns #223#436 Most activeHealth · 844 towns #728#531 Most new homesHousing · 438 towns #174#275 Fewest smokersHealth · 844 towns #424#235 Rent easiest to affordCost of living · 422 towns #174#265

Left end = #1 in California. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of South Gate’s rankings →

Where they are

South Gate and Downey share a border

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

South GateDowneySouth GateDowney
South Gate ↔ Downey3.6 miles apart · They share a border
Who commutes between them
1,042 South Gate residents work in Downey (3% of its workers)
Work & commute in South Gate →
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
South GateDowney
Snow a year0″0″
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)84th83rd
Outdoors & history
South GateDowney
Trails3 mi13 mi
Conserved land3.4%4.4%
Settled19231873
National Register places—2
Archive photos1124
Famous people born here3464
Community
South GateDowney
Library hours a week40 hrs54 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

South GateDowney
People
Population 91,483Lowest 110,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -1.8%Lowest CA: +6.1% +2.3%Highest CA: +6.1%
Median age 36.3±1Lowest 4% below CA 37.7±1.2Highest about the CA average
Downey and South Gate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 22.6%±1.2Highest CA: 22% 21.3%±1.2Lowest CA: 22%
South Gate and Downey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 12.4%±0.8Lowest CA: 15.7% 14.2%±0.9Highest CA: 15.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 11.3%Lowest CA: 37.1% 26.1%Highest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7.5%±0.8Lowest CA: 7.6% 8.3%±0.7Highest CA: 7.6%
Downey and South Gate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $74,571±$3kLowest 25% below CA $90,699±$4kHighest 8% below CA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $636,300±$9kLowest 13% below CA $796,600±$15kHighest 8% above CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,531±$47Lowest 25% below CA $1,937±$41Highest 5% below CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $3,932Lowest 23% below CA $5,323Highest 4% above CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 54.4%±4.1Lowest CA: 55.3% 57.9%±4.2Highest CA: 55.3%
Downey and South Gate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 12.7%Highest CA: 12% 9%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 45.3%Lowest CA: 55.9% 51.1%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than CA 1959Highest 17 yrs older than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 33 minHighest 13% above CA 31 minLowest 8% above CA
Work from home 7%±1.2Lowest CA: 17.2% 9.2%±1.1Highest CA: 17.2%
Downey and South Gate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 4.8%Lowest 8.7%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 9.3 miLowest 10.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.55Lowest 0.88Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Los Angeles (26%)Los Angeles (22%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others 3% work in DowneyFew work in South Gate
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 3.4%Lowest 4.4%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 2.9 miLowest 12.6 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.4 miLowest 1.0 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 11Lowest 13Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 108Lowest 129Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #256 of 574 in CA—
School district Westbrook Academy District · KIPP Corazon Academy DistrictLos Angeles County ROP · Downey Unified
High school in town South East HighDowney High
Students per teacherat that high school 21.3Lowest 23.9Highest
California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

South Gate neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to South Gate’s Town Square.

Downey neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Downey’s Town Square.

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Bordering South Gate

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Lynwood64,578 people · $598K homes
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Paramount52,050 people · $534K homes
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Walnut Park14,958 people · $589K homes
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Cudahy22,087 people · $494K homes

Towns like South Gate

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El Monte106,109 people · $644K homes
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Watsonville51,712 people · $686K homes
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Bellflower76,819 people · $706K homes
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Compton92,698 people · $580K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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