WWII bedroom community bordered by the San Gabriel River
Twenty miles from downtown Los Angeles, suburban Bellflower is the oldest city in Southeast Los Angeles County. The town began with around 100 residents in 1906 and today has nearly 78,000 people. It offers green spaces, an expanding dining scene and access to the rest of the county’s attractions, including beaches and theme parks. The densely populated city occupies six square miles and was once an agricultural powerhouse filled with dairy farms and apple orchards. In fact, it was likely named for the Belle Fleur apple, one of the main fruits grown in the area in the early 1900s. “Bellflower is a working-class area with a lot of contractors and nurses. Not many people know you can see mountains in the winter when the Santa Ana winds and low humidity make the air really clear,” says Wesley Lambert, a real estate agent with Re/Max College Park Realty who’s sold in the area for over 20 years.
Locals can visit Los Angeles County Fire Museum in Bellflower to learn more about its history.
Picking up the fresh strawberries at Bellflower Farmers Market.
Luxurious homes can be found in Bellflower.
Bellflower is a suburb with many styles of homes but mid century ranches predominate.
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Thirteen parks, the San Gabriel River Trail and local museums
The city maintains 13 parks, three community and recreation centers and one multi-use trail across 100 acres. Ruth R. Caruthers Park is one of Bellflower’s largest green spaces, covering 20 acres with a skate park, playgrounds and a fitness center. Plus, athletes can use the lighted baseball fields, tetherball courts, 2-mile walking path and 2.5-mile biking trail. T. Mayne Thompson Park is home to an aquatic center with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, recreational classes and a gymnasium. A fenced playground has slides, climbing areas and swings, while lighted softball fields allow for evening games. Pirate Park is a playground designed to activate children’s imaginations. It features a pirate ship, skull cave and fort. The 36-mile San Gabriel River Trail connects to several other pathways, such as the Bellflower Bike Trail. The multi-use paved river route is known for scenic views of the San Gabriel Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
The Los Angeles County Fire Museum showcases the history of the Los Angeles County Fire Department with exhibits of fire engines from the mid-1800s through today. A block away, the Bellflower Farmer’s Market highlights handmade crafts, locally grown produce and artisan food items each Monday afternoon.
Pirate Park is a great place to take the kids for a pirate themed play day.
Bellflower Skate Park is a popular after school destination in Bellflower.
San Gabriel River Mid Trail links Bellflower to Seal Beach in the south.
Get your workout on at the outdoor gym at Simms Park in Bellflower.
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Local restaurants and Lakewood Center
Restaurants are primarily clustered around Bellflower, Alondra and Lakewood Boulevards. Locally owned Central American, South Asian, Japanese, and classic American eateries mix with national chain restaurants to provide a variety of cuisines. Plaza 183 and Lakewood Center are just two shopping centers out of almost ten within 4 miles of the city. Located 2 miles south in Cerritos, Plaza 183 has national clothing and furniture stores alongside 14 regional and national chain restaurants. Lakewood Center Mall is 3.5 miles south on Lakewood Boulevard. It has a movie theatre, bowling alley and grocery stores, in addition to numerous retailers and eateries.
The Nest Restaurant is a highly rated breakfast and lunch spot in Bellflower.
Steelcraft in downtown Bellflower has many dining options in one casual space.
Head over to Bellflower Bagels for a variety of creative bagels.
Fish tacos from Taco Nazo are a Bellflower favorite and highly recommended.
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Competitive housing market in Los Angeles County
Bellflower’s housing was primarily developed in the 1940s and 1950s, with midcentury ranch-style homes with two to three bedrooms being the most common. Almost 50% of the housing consists of single-family homes, while townhouses, manufactured homes and condos make up another 13% to 15%. New housing is still being constructed, such as the Edgeway Downtown Bellflower, a mixed-use property with 91 residential units. “The lots are often a little bigger than other areas. There are some horse properties along the 605 Freeway with acre lots, and there are big lots in the west of the city near Lakewood. Habitat for Humanity redeveloped that area with new houses a few years ago,” says Lambert. Homes here sell for a median price of $770,000, which is 6% more than in 2023. Prices are above the national average of around $400,000 but are less than most of California, creating a competitive market.
A row of homes in the Bellflower neighborhood that shows many of the different styles.
Homes with singular style in Bellflower near Caruthers Park.
Custom homes and remodeled homes are common in Bellflower.
This cute Spanish style home is from the midcentury and well kept.
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Music programs, language immersion and career preparation in the Bellflower Unified School District
Bellflower Unified School District serves around 10,000 students across 15 campuses and has earned a B-plus ranking from Niche. The district has a 92% graduation rate, higher than California’s rate of 84%. Elementary students can participate in various music programs, and children through middle school can join the Expanded Learning Program’s enrichment activities before or after school. The district offers dual language immersion courses from transitional kindergarten through sixth grade. High schoolers who continue taking language courses can earn a state seal of biliteracy on their diplomas. The Career Technical Education program has ten pathways for fields like marketing, health science, engineering and construction.
Thomas Jefferson Elementary is in the Bellflower Unified School District.
An aerial view of the pick up and drop off area at Ramona Elementary School in Bellflower.
Bellflower Unified School District serves the city and parts of Cerritos and Lakewood.
Bellflower High School has an average class size of 20 students.
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Bus routes, freeways and the Los Angeles International Airport
Thanks to a network of sidewalks, many errands can be done on foot in Bellflower. The city has limited bike lanes. However, Bellflower Bus, Long Beach Transit and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority operate regular bus routes through Bellflower and surrounding cities like Lakewood and Norwalk. The 91 and 105 Freeways connect to Interstate 710, which leads 20 miles to downtown Los Angeles or 15 miles to Long Beach. Interstate 605 runs just outside the city’s eastern border, and together, these large roadways create traffic noise throughout the day. People in Bellflower typically have a 30-minute one-way daily commute, slightly longer than the national average of 27 minutes. Long Beach Airport is 6 miles away for domestic flights, while the Los Angeles International Airport is 19 miles northwest.
Healthcare, wholesale and the United States Post Office
Healthcare is a significant industry in Bellflower. Five hospitals, including the Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center, Coast Plaza Hospital and Kindred Hospital Paramount, are within 3.5 miles of the city. Together, they contribute nearly 6,000 jobs to the city. Other prominent industries are retail/wholesale companies and government agencies. The United States Postal Service and retailers/wholesalers like Target, Kroger and Walgreens round out the top employers.
Walgreens is one of the largest employers in Bellflower.
Kaiser Permanente employs many Bellflower residents.
The USPS serves Bellflower and is also a significant employer in the city.
Bellflower residents head to Target at Lakewood Center to shop or work.
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Low humidity, varying air quality and above-average crime rates
Like much of southern California, Bellflower has a Mediterranean-like climate with dry summers, rainy winters and generally low humidity. However, the city also experiences around 11 days of poor to unhealthy air quality ann ually, according to the national Air Quality Index. People are advised to wear masks outdoors during these times because the poor air quality can cause breathing problems and throat irritation.
Both violent and property crime rates in the city are higher than the California and national averages. Violent crime in Bellflower occurs at a rate of one in 170 people, while the state rate is one person in 200. Property crimes happen at a rate of one in 40 people in the city, while one in 43 people experience theft or burglary throughout California.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
