Willowbrook
Neighborhood in Compton, California
Los Angeles County 90059, 90061, 90222
Seeking affordability, families come to stay
Industrial buildings and warehouses fill one section of Willowbrook, but the larger residential area is evenly divided between owners and renters. Blocks of tightly packed, low-slung bungalows and ranch-style homes sit behind wrought-iron or chain link fences. Home prices range from around $400,000 for a bungalow to $800,000 for larger ranch-style homes, with the occasional large estate priced at over a million dollars. “Willowbrook is actually a very quaint and generally well-maintained neighborhood,” says Eileen Gonzales, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Advisors and an expert in market research and property analysis. “The majority of neighbors take pride in their homes, which is visible from the way they maintain the yards and facades of the homes.” A home at the median price of $610,000 might feature three to four small bedrooms, a freshened interior and a small backyard with cacti and succulents and gravel mulch or squares of pavement. Many families have multi-generational roots, says Gonzales, who recently sold a home for a couple in their eighties who had lived there most of their lives. “The husband's father built the place, and his parents lived there until they passed.”Parks and gardens nurture community spirit
The Willowbrook Community Garden is a perfect hub for the neighborhood. “It has become a sacred space for families to come to relax and get away, even if they’re not gardeners. Kids can play here, and it’s become a meeting place for neighborhood watch meetings. It adds such enormous value to the community. You’d be surprised what a small place can do,” says Pinkey. The Magic Johnson Park overlooks one of the lakes, and the community center includes classroom space and accommodates workshops and school field trips. Willowbrook also has smaller parks more typical of the region. Athens Park on the neighborhood’s western edge is a hub for athletes and students, with baseball diamonds, basketball courts and programming for camps and afterschool care. And the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation made Mona Park on the East side the recipient of a “Dodgers Dreamfield” grant, which revitalized its baseball fields. Neighbors can also use the gym, pool and year-round sports programming at Mona Park.Two school districts plus a pathway to medical professions
Two school districts serve Willowbrook: Los Angeles Unified and Compton Unified. Kids may attend Martin Luther King Elementary, graded C-plus by Niche, or B-minus graded McKinley Elementary for kindergarten through grade 8. Willowbrook Middle School is graded B-minus and Centennial High School gets a C-plus grade. King/Drew Medical Magnet High School, graded A, is located in Willowbrook near MLK hospital. While it also draws from surrounding neighborhoods, the magnet high school may be an option for Willowbrook students aspiring to a medical career. The Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science University is also next to the hospital. Drew University is the only historically Black graduate institution west of the Mississippi and one of four historically Black medical schools in the nation.Revitalization, rejuvenation, and growing community spirit
A sense of abundance is apparent in Willowbrook. Avocadoes, pomegranates, passion fruit, almonds and other goodies in the community garden are there for the taking, says Pinkney. “Any gardeners are welcome to take what two hands can hold, so there’s enough for everybody.” Residents of Hope on Avalon, a supportive and transitional housing development nearby, have a plot in the garden. “It’s beautiful. They grow jalapenos and tomatoes. They come as a group, walk over here, sit in the garden and work, always ask what they can do.” Pinkney appreciates the progress she sees around her. She looks forward to future development of the neighborhood, with upscale shopping and entertainment options. But as far as a well-balanced, melting pot community vibe, she says, “it’s already here.”Easy access to beaches, downtown and job centers
Seven bus stops and a metro stop serve Willowbrook. The train downtown takes about 40 minutes. And by car, Los Angeles International Airport is a ten-mile straight shot on Interstate 105. Downtown is 12.5 miles up Interstate 110, or 19 miles without tolls. “A lot of people are considering [Willowbrook] for affordability and close proximity to employment centers,” says Jessica Nieto, a Realtor with eXp Realty who has been a real estate professional since 2008. “Longshoreman opportunities are in pretty easy reach, as are a lot of manufacturing and labor jobs.” The metro station, the second busiest light rail station in the city, was recently renovated with improved lighting and bus access and other state-of-the-art features. It showcases work by local artists on the interior walls, and sculptured parasols cast filtered images of Rosa Parks on the pavement of the newly developed public plaza.From Hawkins House of Burgers to fresh seafood and Mexican street fare
“One of the best things about Willowbrook is the diversity of food, from very authentic Mexican food to amazing burgers,” says Nieto. Case in point: Hawkins House of Burgers, built in 1939 by the owner Cynthia Hawkins’ father and grandfather. Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid named it among his top three favorite cheeseburger joints. Mariscos El Patron food truck, often parked alongside Magic Johnson Park, offers ceviche and other fresh seafood. And near Athens Park, El Antojito Grill cooks up an abundance of tacos, tortas and tostilocos. Shoppers will find several discount warehouse-style grocery stores with fresh produce in the neighborhood, like Grocery Outlet and Food 4 Less, which has a bakery. Citi Mall sells furniture and home goods. A Dollar Zone is located near the Magic Johnson Park and there is a Walmart just to the east of the neighborhood.


Agents Specializing in this Area
-
Silvestre Medel
Excellence RE Real Estate, Inc.
(858) 256-8987
57 Total Sales
1 in Willowbrook
$545,000 Price
-
Ron Jackson - Probate\Trust Specialist
Compass
(562) 991-6699
73 Total Sales
1 in Willowbrook
$622,500 Price
-
Kevin Da Silva
eXp Realty of Greater Los Angeles, Inc.
(424) 372-0894
113 Total Sales
1 in Willowbrook
$750,000 Price
-
Carmen Caudillo
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
(562) 270-6946
38 Total Sales
3 in Willowbrook
$475K - $615K Price Range
-
Carolina Camero
Berkshire Hathaway HSCP
(424) 399-5680
35 Total Sales
1 in Willowbrook
$589,000 Price
-
Angel Hightower
Real Brokerage Technologies
(323) 894-9194
14 Total Sales
1 in Willowbrook
$640,000 Price
Schools
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Parks in this Area
Transit
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Willowbrook | US |
---|---|---|
Homicide | 6 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 6 | 4 |
Robbery | 7 | 4 |
Burglary | 3 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 7 | 4 |
Larceny | 3 | 4 |
Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Willowbrook Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Willowbrook, Compton sell after 39 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Willowbrook, Compton over the last 12 months is $640,000, up 7% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Open Houses
-
Saturday, Jun 211 - 5pm
-
Saturday, Jul 121 - 4pm
-
Saturday, Jun 2111am - 4pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Finances
Education and Workforce
Weather
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.