Los Angeles metro, CA relocation guide
Moving to Hawthorne, CA
About Hawthorne
Hawthorne is a South Bay city of 88,083 (2020 census; July 2025 estimate 82,741, per Census QuickFacts, read September 24, 2026), incorporated in 1922 and spanning about 6 square miles along the Century Freeway (I-105) corridor. Roughly three-quarters of households rent, and the median owner-occupied home value is ~$863,400 (ACS 2020–2024). Hawthorne is the birthplace of the Beach Boys — Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson grew up at 3701 W 119th Street — and the longtime home of SpaceX, whose headquarters on Crenshaw Boulevard put the city at the center of the commercial space industry. Housing is a mix of mid-century bungalows and cottages, duplexes, and apartment complexes, with a large share of the city in light industrial and aerospace uses.
Home prices in Hawthorne
The median listing price in Hawthorne is $987k.
Top places in Hawthorne
- SpaceX headquarters on Crenshaw Boulevard — the rocket factory that made Hawthorne the capital of commercial spaceflight (Dragon capsule shown in the photo below).
- Beach Boys Monument — California Registered Historical Landmark No. 1041 at 3701 W 119th St, marking the Wilson brothers' childhood home where the band was born in 1961 (home demolished for the I-105 freeway).
- Hawthorne Plaza — the iconic vacant "dead mall" on Hawthorne Boulevard (shown in the photo below), a frequent filming location.
- Hawthorne Memorial Park, Jim Thorpe Park, Holly Park, Eucalyptus Park, and William Green Park — city parks and recreation.
- Hawthorne Boulevard corridor — dense commercial strip of shops, restaurants, and auto services.
- Close by: SoFi Stadium and the new Hollywood Park development in Inglewood; Manhattan and Hermosa beaches a short drive west.
Commuting from Hawthorne
- Metro C Line (Green): the Hawthorne/Lennox station serves the city's east side; downtown LA is reachable by rail with transfers (C Line → K Line → E Line), typically about 45–60 minutes.
- Approximate drive to downtown Los Angeles (about 12–14 miles): ~20–30 minutes off-peak via I-105 to I-110; peak-hour commutes run significantly longer.
- Easy freeway access via I-105, I-405, and CA-91; LAX is about 10 minutes southwest. Hawthorne Boulevard and Crenshaw Boulevard are the main north–south commercial corridors.
Schools in Hawthorne
Public schools: Hawthorne School District. For enrollment and performance data, see the state report card in Town links below. Confirm school assignment for any address directly with the district.
Hawthorne FAQs
- What is the housing market like in Hawthorne, CA?
The median listing price in Hawthorne is $987k. Median listing home price (115 active listings; $627/sq ft; median 46 days on market) · Realtor.com · 2026-09-24 - How is the commute from Hawthorne, CA?
Metro C Line (Green): the Hawthorne/Lennox station serves the city's east side; downtown LA is reachable by rail with transfers (C Line → K Line → E Line), typically about 45–60 minutes. - Which school district serves Hawthorne, CA?
Hawthorne is served by Hawthorne School District. See the state report card in Town links, and confirm school assignment for a specific address with the district.
Town links
Schools
Transit
Official town resources. School report cards via the National Center for Education Statistics.