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Living in Bell Gardens, CA

Suburb in California

Bell Gardens is a suburb in California, home to about 39,000 people, with 11.9 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, you can walk or take transit almost everywhere. Life moves at a very fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

Is Bell Gardens a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong healthcare: 32 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Easy flying: LGB is 10 mi away
  • Lots of culture: museums, zoos and attractions nearby
  • Mild summers: highs around 81°F

👎 Cons

  • Few dog parks: 13 within 9 mi
  • Weaker public schools: test results well below the US average
  • Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $707k, and rent is $3,300 a month
  • Higher taxes: about $3,279 state income tax per resident, 0.74% property tax

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Bell Gardens ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
39,000
11.9 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
68°F / 81°F
Average daily highs
3-bedroom home
$707k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$3,300/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
114
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$3,279
State income tax per resident · 0.74% property tax
Safety
0.9× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
15 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly earthquakes, flooding
Top-rated hospitals
32
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Public schools
Poor
Tests well below US average · 26 students per teacher
Adults with a degree
7%
10 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
LGB
10 mi away

Living in Bell Gardens: common questions

What is the cost of living in Bell Gardens?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $707k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $3,300 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 114, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Bell Gardens?

California collects about $3,279 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.74% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Bell Gardens safe?

Violent crime is close to the national rate (0.9× in FBI 2019 data).

How are the schools in Bell Gardens?

Public schools in Bell Gardens test well below the US average in math and reading (2018–19 state tests, put on one national scale with NAEP), with about 26 students per teacher.

What is the weather like in Bell Gardens?

Bell Gardens is warm all year: winter days average around 68°F and summer days around 81°F.

Does Bell Gardens get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is high, mainly from earthquakes and flooding: 15 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.95 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Bell Gardens?

The nearest major airport is LGB, about 10 mi away.

How Bell Gardens scores

Each bar compares Bell Gardens with the other 1,990 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City sizeBig city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quietDense & urban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting aroundWalk & transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or natureStrong culture scene Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️ClimateWarm all year Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of livingExpensive Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️PaceVery fast-paced Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝CommunityFriendly community AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡HousingMostly apartments ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housingBelow average
💸Low taxesBelow average
💼Job marketGood
🏥HealthcareExcellent
🏫SchoolsPoor
🎓EducationAverage
🧸Kids & familyGood
🐕Dog-friendlyPoor
⛰️OutdoorsGood
🎭CultureExcellent
👮SafetySafe
🌪️Few natural disastersAverage
☀️SunnyExcellent
🌤️Mild summersExcellent
✈️AirportExcellent

Places like Bell Gardens

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 24 aspects.

The circle is each place's all-round score out of 100: the average of its 15 quality scores, from red (poor) to green (excellent).

Florence-Graham, CASuburb62 $616k$3,300/moNo crime data Bell, CASuburb61 $715k$3,300/moSafe Westmont, CASuburb60 $702k$3,300/moNo crime data Lynwood, CASuburb60 $707k$3,300/moModerate crime East Los Angeles, CASuburb65 $699k$3,300/moNo crime data Lawndale, CASuburb65 $821k$3,300/moSafe

Nearby

Bell, CASuburb · 2 mi away61 $715k$3,300/moSafe Downey, CASuburb · 2 mi away65 $870k$3,300/moSafe South Gate, CASuburb · 3 mi away60 $721k$3,300/moModerate crime Huntington Park, CASuburb · 4 mi away58 $689k$3,300/moHigher crime Lynwood, CASuburb · 4 mi away60 $707k$3,300/moModerate crime Pico Rivera, CASuburb · 4 mi away62 $753k$3,300/moSafe

See all the best places to live in California.

Is Bell Gardens right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.