Los Angeles metro, CA relocation guide
Moving to Lakewood, CA
About Lakewood
Lakewood is a southeastern Los Angeles County city of about 82,496 residents at the 2020 census (per Census QuickFacts, read September 24, 2026). It is famous as America's prototypical postwar planned suburb: developers built roughly 17,500 homes in three years (1950–1953), and the 1954 incorporation pioneered the "Lakewood Plan" — contracting services from the county — a model copied nationwide. The city grew up around the Lakewood Center (opened 1951, shown below), among the first regional shopping malls in the United States.
Home prices in Lakewood
The median listing price in Lakewood is $887k.
Top places in Lakewood
- Lakewood Center — the historic 1951 shopping mall (shown below).
- Lakewood Country Club — the city's private golf course.
- Monte Verde Park and Mayfair Park — the two main community parks.
- The Lakewood Center Transit Center for regional bus connections.
- El Dorado Park in adjacent Long Beach, minutes south.
Commuting from Lakewood
- Approximate drive to downtown Los Angeles (about 20 miles): ~30–45 minutes off-peak via CA-91 west or I-710 north; peak-hour commutes run 45–75 minutes.
- Metro: the Lakewood Boulevard C Line (Green) station sits at the city's western edge; the Lakewood Center Transit Center connects multiple Long Beach Transit lines.
- Long Beach Airport is ~5 miles south.
Schools in Lakewood
Public schools: Lakewood Unified 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.
Lakewood FAQs
- What is the housing market like in Lakewood, CA?
The median listing price in Lakewood is $887k. 115–116 active listings, $621/sq. ft., 40 median days on market, $3.8k median rent · Realtor.com · 2026-09-24 - How is the commute from Lakewood, CA?
Approximate drive to downtown Los Angeles (about 20 miles): ~30–45 minutes off-peak via CA-91 west or I-710 north; peak-hour commutes run 45–75 minutes. - Which school district serves Lakewood, CA?
Lakewood is served by Lakewood Unified 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.