Real Estate Investing in Whittier, California (90603)

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

Los Angeles County • Population: 20,361 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 90603 (Whittier, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
1 flag
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Whittier, CA (90603)?

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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 $893,338
Avg Monthly Rent $3,500
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $117,324
% Renters 21.2%

Market Analysis: 90603 Whittier

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Whittier's 90603 ZIP shows signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $893K pricing implies.

Rent of $3,500/mo on a $893K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 90603 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

In the broader CA picture, 90603 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Who lives in 90603 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategy in 90603 is an operator game, not a passive one. Stepping back, entry prices of $893K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Whittier:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 59/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,500/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 90603

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+7.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$238,535/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $714,812 $3,070 3.1% +6.9% $357,406
3BR $844,783 $3,890 3.3% +5.9% $281,594
4BR $954,142 $4,330 3.3% +6.0% $238,535
5BR $1,396,989 +7.9% $279,398

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$944K$818K$692K$566K$440K$314KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 90603 Compare?

Metric 90603 Whittier Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA California
Home Value $893,338 $836,586 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 4.1% 4.2% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $3,500 $2,606 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.1% 2.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 90603? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 90603 (Whittier, 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

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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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summary from their website 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
3.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $893,338
Monthly Rent $3,500
Price-to-Rent 21.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.7%
Cap Rate 3.1%
5-Year IRR 7.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.1%). 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
1.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 90603

Population: 20,361

💰 Median Household Income
$117,324
This area
$117,324
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
21.2%
This area
21.2%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
33.8%
This area
33.8%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.9 years
This area
40.9 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 51.2%
Other/Mixed 42.1%
Hispanic/Latino 38.8%
Asian 6.2%
Black/African American 0.5%
👶 Under 18
21.4%
This area
21.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.5%
This area
16.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.6%
This area
1.6%
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 90603

B Avg School Grade
3 Schools
23.9:1 Avg Class Size
$17,682 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Jordan Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
468 Students
👨‍🏫
23.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,517 Per Student
B Good

Leffingwell Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
542 Students
👨‍🏫
22.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,765 Per Student
B Good

Murphy Ranch Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
491 Students
👨‍🏫
25.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,765 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Richard L. Graves Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 13243 East Los Nietos Rd., Whittier
👥
455 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,918 Per Student
A Very Good

Frontier High (Continuation)

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 9401 South Painter Ave., Whittier
👥
418 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$22,431 Per Student
A Very Good

Carmela Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 13300 Lakeland Rd., Whittier
👥
337 Students
👨‍🏫
20.5:1 Class Size
💰
$21,918 Per Student
A Very Good

Howard J. McKibben Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 10550 Mills Ave., Whittier
👥
406 Students
👨‍🏫
20.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,918 Per Student
A Very Good

Los Altos Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 12001 Bona Vista Ln., Whittier
👥
496 Students
👨‍🏫
21.6:1 Class Size
💰
$21,918 Per Student
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
D
ATI College-Whittier
141 students · 0.7 mi
D
Southern California University of Health Sciences
1,987 students · 1.6 mi
C+
Biola University
5,296 students · 3.0 mi
C
Whittier College
859 students · 3.3 mi
C
Beyond 21st Century Beauty Academy
102 students · 3.4 mi
C
Medical Allied Career Center
64 students · 4.4 mi
C+
NTMA Training Centers of Southern California
64 students · 4.7 mi
C
Presbyterian Theological Seminary in America
208 students · 5.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How high is vacancy risk in Whittier, CA?

Vacancy risk in Whittier, CA is elevated. That supports measured cash flow for typical rental holds.

Are homes affordable in Whittier, CA?

Whittier, CA median home values land near $893K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $3,500/mo-per-month rentals.

What do landlords charge for rent in Whittier, CA?

Rent in Whittier, CA is around $3,500/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $893K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Is Whittier, CA good for landlords?

Whittier, CA falls under CA landlord-tenant law, which is tenant-protective. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

What approach is best for Whittier, CA real estate?

The best-fit strategy in Whittier, CA is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

You know 90603 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 90603 ranks in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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