Situated just over 10 miles south of Los Angeles, Downey is a bedroom community becoming a low-key hotspot. "This area has become a focal point for commuters because you're central to LA and Orange County," says e-Homes Realtor Jordan Partida, whose office is in Downey. The city is primarily residential, with blocks of homes within walking distance of highly ranked schools and small community parks. "The 5 freeway is on the west end of the neighborhood, so people can get to and from downtown quickly when traffic isn't too bad," says Luis Pinel, Realtor with PAK Realty, with nearly a decade of experience. Downey is gaining popularity due to its convenient location, and new restaurants are popping up alongside shopping centers on Firestone Boulevard. The city also has a proud culture of the arts and sciences, with regular performances at the Downey Theatre and interstellar exhibits at the Columbia Memorial Space Center.
The street is closed down for vendors, food trucks and activities at the Downey Street Market.
Rio Hondo Golf Club is a great place to enjoy a game of golf with friends.
Stonewood Center is a great place to bring the family for a day of shopping and fun.
Downey Día de Los Muertos Art Festival has spectacular costumes to view and get photos with.
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Site of manufacturing for the Apollo space program
Downey has a proud connection with space travel as the manufacturing site for the first Apollo space program. North American Rockwell manufactured the modules at their plant in the 1960s. After the government shut down the Apollo program, the city memorialized the site by turning it into the Columbia Memorial Space Center. Residents can visit the space center to see engaging exhibits, attend seminars and observe the cosmos through telescopes on astronomy nights. Another cultural outlet is the Downey Theatre, a popular destination for plays and performances, and it even has an in-house orchestra.
The Columbia Space Center is a wonderful place to visit if you are passing through town.
Make sure to catch a movie at Downey Theater.
Stonewood Center is a great place to shop and eat.
Enjoy some of Downy Night Market theme nights, including Disney Night.
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Birthday parties and family picnics at Dennis the Menace Park
Downey has about a dozen parks and facilities maintained by the city. "A lot of the neighborhoods have small parks and playgrounds, so it is very family friendly, and there's a strong sense of community in these places," Partida says. Dennis the Menace Park is a popular place for family events and birthday parties because it's got a playground, open green space, picnic tables and barbecues. The sports facilities are the highlight of Apollo Park, where the basketball, volleyball and bocce ball courts and baseball fields are always buzzing with activity. The park also promises fitness equipment, walking trails and a playground. Independence Park has a supervised skate park and tennis center with eight lighted courts. There are two 18-hole golf courses on Downey's residential streets. Los Amigos Golf Course is a public course on the city's southwest side. Rio Hondo Golf Club is a public course owned and maintained by the city of Los Angeles, just northeast of Firestone Boulevard.
Dennis The Menace park offers beautiful green space for Downey residents.
Get in a game of hoops at Apollo Park.
A mother leads her son on a balance beam at Hollydale Regional Park in Downey, California.
Downey's local skatepark is Independence Park, also a popular park for tennis and soccer.
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Downey Unified is among the best school districts in the state
Families with school-aged children are served by Downey Unified, an excellent public school district graded A by Niche, which ranks it amongst the best districts in the state. “Downey High School is known in part for sports. Their football and basketball programs are pretty good,” Partida says. “And Downey High is also known to provide a lot of resources for theater arts.” Calvary Chapel Christian School of Downey and St. John Bosco High School are among the well-known private schools in and around the city.
Rio San Gabriel Elementary School is home to the Mustangs.
Dotty Middle School has an updated state of the art campus.
The front entrance to Downey High School in Downey
A large sign welcomes students to Warren High School in Downey, California.
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High housing prices are on par with California median
Though the median home price of $900,000 in Downey is on par with the California median, it's more than double the national number of around $400,000. "Prices are consistent with the LA area, but now is the time to buy because prices are always rising," says Pinel. There's a high cost of entry, but a home in Downey is a good investment — in August 2024, home prices were up 7% over the previous year. The city is overwhelmingly single-family, though a handful of townhomes and condos are scattered throughout. "You have a broad range of homes here, from affordability to luxury. On one end, you can get a three-bedroom fixer-upper for $550,000; on the other is a six-bedroom estate home for $3.5 million," Partida says. "North Downey along Gallatin Road is going to be more of an exclusive luxury area — Orange Estates is a really nice walkable neighborhood — and on the southern side of Downey, it's going to be a little more affordable." The real estate market is active all over the city. "Downey does stay pretty busy. Nearly one home sells every day," Partida.
Mid-century homes line the streets in Downey.
You will find many glamorous mansions in Downy .
You will find large Spanish style homes with beautiful architectural qualities in Downey.
Ample yards adorn the streets in Downey.
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Downtown LA or Disneyland in 30 minutes or less
Downey has direct highway access to interstates 5, 105 and 405 and a lot of through traffic. “Proximity to the 5 is a huge draw to this area. On any given day, you can be at Disneyland in Orange County or downtown LA in 30 minutes or less, depending on traffic,” Partida says. The city’s main thoroughfares are Firestone and Lakewood boulevards, which have three lanes in either direction that are lined with bus routes operated by Downey Link. “You usually need a car to get around, but a lot of people will take the bus to get to the more walkable areas on Downey Avenue,” Partida says. The closest airport is Los Angeles International, about 20 miles west via the 105 — it’s a sneaky long drive that can take upward of 90 minutes during unpredictable rush hours. PIH Health Downey Hospital and the Downey Medical Center are the two most prominent medical facilities in the city.
Dining in on Cuban sandwiches at Porto's
Most of Downey's commercial space is along Firestone Boulevard and Downey Avenue near the city center. "It's primarily stores and strip malls, but new restaurants have brought some nightlife to the city," says Pinel. There is national chain dining, in addition to many independent eateries. "A lot of people love stopping at Porto's, which is a Cuban bakery and cafe that is busy at all hours. You can eat in and have a Cuban sandwich or pick up something from the bakery and be on your way," Partida says. "Lock and Key is another great place. They do burgers, steaks and craft cocktails." For a little retail therapy, there is the Stonewood Center shopping mall on Firestone Boulevard and the Citadel Outlets, a few miles north on Interstate 5.
Porto's is a popular lunch spot for residents of Downey.
Pieloon is a popular restaurant in Downey and well known for their breakfast.
You can still find a classic Bob's Big Boy diner in Downey.
Known for their burger, Bob's Big Boy is also just as popular for breakfast in Downey.
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High levels of property crime are trending down
Unlike many cities that saw a prolonged spike in violent crime during and after the pandemic, numbers in Downey have remained remarkably consistent since 2020. In recent years, the city has averaged around 70 violent crimes per 100,000 people each month, compared to about 110 nationally. From 2020 until 2022, property crime was about average, but incidents have been climbing since and are now reported at higher numbers than at the national and state levels. Since 2022, there have been about 250 instances of property crime each month per 100,000 people, compared to around 170 nationally. However, property crime was trending down in late 2023.
Downey's climate is semi-arid, a dry, semi-desert environment known for hot, dry summers and mild winters. The average temperature in July through September is around 90, with regular heatwaves and drought conditions often gripping the city.
On average, homes in Downey, CA sell after 38 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Downey, CA over the last 12 months is $875,000, up 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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.
