Real Estate Investing in Compton, California (90221)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Los Angeles County • Population: 50,782 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 90221 (Compton, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Compton, CA (90221)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $651,196
Avg Monthly Rent $2,056
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $64,439
% Renters 46.1%

Market Analysis: 90221 Compton

This part of Los Angeles County is not an easy win. The 90221 ZIP posts softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The 90221 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Within CA, ZIP 90221 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Los Angeles County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and robust enough to shape underwriting.

The 90221 ZIP's population of 50,782 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that sits at the need for careful underwriting.

Strategically, 90221 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Compton:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 10.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,056/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
50 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.0%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 90221

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
3.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+5.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$148,063/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $474,795 $1,680 2.5% +5.8% $474,795
2BR $580,318 $2,090 2.6% +5.8% $290,159
3BR $647,006 $2,650 2.9% +5.7% $215,669
4BR $702,135 $2,950 3.0% +5.3% $175,534
5BR $740,315 +5.3% $148,063

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$691K$581K$472K$363K$253K$144KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,293$2,242$2,191$2,140$2,090$2,039Sep 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 90221 Compare?

Metric 90221 Compton Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA California
Home Value $651,196 $642,916 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 4.3% 4.3% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $2,056 $2,526 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.5% 3.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 90221? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 46% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 90221 (Compton, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Los Angeles County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

A Better Property Management Company Inc. provides property management services in Long Beach, Seal Beach, and Southern California. summary from their website

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ACF Property Management leases shopping center spaces nationwide, managing over 37 shopping centers in 11 states from California to Florida. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $651,196
Monthly Rent $2,056
Price-to-Rent 26.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.8%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 6.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
3.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 90221

Population: 50,782

💰 Median Household Income
$64,439
This area
$64,439
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
46.1%
This area
46.1%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.8%
This area
4.8%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
7.7%
This area
7.7%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
32.7 years
This area
32.7 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 60.4%
Hispanic/Latino 58.4%
White 19.7%
Black/African American 18.9%
Asian 1.0%
👶 Under 18
27.1%
This area
27.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
9.3%
This area
9.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.7%
This area
15.7%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 90221

B Avg School Grade
14 Schools
23.2:1 Avg Class Size
$17,716 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Thurgood Marshall

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
31 Students
👨‍🏫
10.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,668 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lifeline Education Charter

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
691 Students
👨‍🏫
21.1:1 Class Size
💰
$18,244 Per Student
B Good

Cesar Chavez Continuation High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
251 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,668 Per Student
B Good

Emerson Elementary

📚 K – 08 School
👥
570 Students
👨‍🏫
25.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,668 Per Student
B Good

Foster Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
400 Students
👨‍🏫
23.5:1 Class Size
💰
$17,668 Per Student
B Good

Kelly Elementary

📚 K – 08 School
👥
684 Students
👨‍🏫
25.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,668 Per Student
B Good

Mayo Elementary

📚 K – 08 School
👥
436 Students
👨‍🏫
25.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,668 Per Student
B Good

Roosevelt Elementary

📚 K – 08 School
👥
539 Students
👨‍🏫
25.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,668 Per Student
B Good

Whaley Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
480 Students
👨‍🏫
23.5:1 Class Size
💰
$17,668 Per Student
B Good

Manuel Dominguez High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,616 Students
👨‍🏫
21.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,668 Per Student
C+ Average

Clinton William Jefferson

📚 K – 08 School
👥
758 Students
👨‍🏫
28.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,668 Per Student
C+ Average

Compton High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,297 Students
👨‍🏫
23.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,668 Per Student
C Below Average

Compton Unified ROP

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
D Needs Improvement

Bridges Preparatory Academy

📚 06 – 08 Middle Charter
👥
134 Students
👨‍🏫
32.2:1 Class Size
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 4,709 Off-Campus Students
C
Compton College
4,765 students · 0.5 mi
B
California State University-Dominguez Hills
15,181 students · 3.2 mi
C
Healthcare Career College
381 students · 3.3 mi
C
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
763 students · 3.5 mi
C
National Polytechnic College
299 students · 4.0 mi
C+
Victory Career College
97 students · 4.4 mi
D
California Healing Arts College
298 students · 4.4 mi
C
UEI College-Gardena
1,444 students · 4.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,709 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the investability score for Compton, CA?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Compton, CA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $651K and rents of $2,056/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Which real estate strategy fits Compton, CA?

Compton, CA investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($651K prices, $2,056/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

What is the typical rental rate in Compton, CA?

Expect rents around $2,056/mo per month in Compton, CA. With home values at $651K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Compton, CA?

Compton, CA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

What does house hacking look like in Compton, CA?

House hacking works a challenging in Compton, CA. Rents of $2,056/mo against $651K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

You know 90221 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 90221 ranks in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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