Located in Los Angeles County
Often referred to as the Hub City for its central location, Compton offers a relatively affordable lifestyle to the south of Los Angeles. The city boasts a strong school system, convenient access to public transportation and green spaces. With the help of active nonprofit programs and grant funds, the quality of life within Compton continues to improve.
Compton’s relatively low housing costs are a big draw for buyers. “It’s one of the most affordable cities in the LA area,” says Ramon Sanchez, Realtor and broker with Century 21 Allstars, who has lived in the region for about 35 years. “Downtown LA is where all the jobs are, but you can spend less money and just drive into LA for work.” The median sale price falls in the mid-$600,000s, slightly lower than nearby Inglewood and significantly below Los Angeles. Homes typically sell anywhere from the low $300,000s to just under $1.3 million.
Housing options include early 1900s builds, midcentury Spanish-style homes and a few newer developments. Some older homes have been modified over time, and they may have irregular layouts. “Compton didn’t have a lot of housing rules back in the day, so a lot of homes have random additions. You might walk through a bedroom to get to another bedroom,” says Joshua Glaz, The Ave Agency’s founder and broker who has sold houses in Compton since 1999. “Now you have presale inspection, so things have to be permitted. If you put a light fixture up, the inspector wants that documented. If someone illegally converted a garage, they want it taken down.”
Each neighborhood in the city has its own distinct vibe and advantages:
While downtown LA is notorious for its heavy traffic, “you don’t get a lot of through traffic in Compton — it’s not as congested,” Sanchez says. With a Metro station downtown, residents also have the option to skip traffic and take the A Line straight into Long Beach or LA.
Compton’s location is convenient for drivers as well. “You’re central to everything — you can just hop on the 105 freeway, the 710 freeway or the 110 freeway,” Sanchez says. Los Angeles, Long Beach and the Los Angeles International Airport are each about 15 miles away.
Children can attend the highly-rated Compton Unified School District. The district offers a STEAM-based preschool, Spanish dual-immersion programs for elementary students and adult education classes. Families who live in northern Compton may be zoned for the highly rated Compton Early College High School. Students at CECHS have the opportunity to earn an associate degree through Compton College while still in high school. Highly rated private schools like Verbum Dei Jesuit High School and Gethsemane Baptist Christian School are just a few miles outside the city.
Locals often eat and shop on Compton Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue. “Tourists don’t really come here, but they have a lot of good hole-in-the-wall places,” Glaz says.
Compton is about 20 miles from the region’s famous mountains and beaches, but the city has several attractions of its own. Compton Art & History Museum is in Central Compton, as is Wilson Park, which has basketball courts, an indoor gym and a playground. Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum at Compton/Woodley Airport hosts aviation events and STEM-based afterschool programs. At Gonzales Park, there are sports fields and an aquatic center, and Compton Creek Natural Park features a walking path through native plants.
Pop culture has often defined Compton by its crime and violence. While these issues affect the city, it was never true that they represented the entire city, which has roughly 100,000 residents. “It’s not what everybody thinks it is. People have pride in this city,” says Sheena Pratt, a Los Angeles resident and Realtor with Wedgewood Homes Realty since 2020. “A lot of people have been here for years, and they have a pride of ownership. Some properties have been passed down from generation to generation.”
Efforts from nonprofit organizations like the Compton Cowboys and The Compton Initiative have helped shift the city’s reputation. Children now have opportunities to learn horseback riding, and neighbors are working to keep streets cleaner and paint murals. The city also connects residents with grants for small business owners, first-time homebuyers and buyers looking to renovate abandoned homes.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this area.
Joseph McMahon
Keller Williams Realty
(424) 396-1573
11 Total Sales
1 in Compton
$520,000 Price
Gerry Nicks
Keller Williams Realty
(424) 370-0766
171 Total Sales
15 in Compton
$475K - $1.1M Price Range
Linda Cottone
eXp Realty of California, Inc.
(424) 375-6846
64 Total Sales
1 in Compton
$525,000 Price
Kai Chan
Century 21 Masters
(833) 987-4048
15 Total Sales
1 in Compton
$357,500 Price
Linda Ojeda
Luxury Collective
(424) 372-0165
131 Total Sales
1 in Compton
$640,000 Price
Nathalie Marles
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Crest Real Estate
(747) 223-7083
76 Total Sales
1 in Compton
$725,000 Price
On average, homes in Compton, CA sell after 48 days on the market compared to the national average of 54 days. The median sale price for homes in Compton, CA over the last 12 months is $640,000, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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