Central
Historic bungalows and modern condos
Central’s residential market is made up of a diverse assortment of housing styles. Early-20th-century bungalows are common, as are midcentury apartment buildings and more modern condo complexes. There are also a fair number of historic 2-story homes in the neighborhood, though most of these have been converted to multi-unit properties. Condos in Central usually sell for $500,000 to $700,000, while single-family homes generally list for $700,000 to $1 million. Multi-unit properties also regularly go up for sale in the neighborhood, with prices from $1 million to $3 million.
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PCH restaurants and Downtown shops
While Central is mostly residential, it’s surrounded by major commercial areas. The neighborhood itself isn’t known for its shopping, but it is home to two supermarkets, Aldi and Smart & Final Extra, and is within a mile of many more. Locals looking to do some serious shopping can always head down Long Beach Boulevard to Downtown Long Beach, which is home to a wide roster of chain realtors, along with local boutiques and specialty shops. Downtown and nearby Alamitos Beach are hubs of the local dining scene, but Central itself is home to a number of highly rated eateries as well. These include the longstanding Poly Burgers diner and an array of popular Latin restaurants along the Pacific Coast Highway on the north side of the neighborhood.
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Polytechnic's standout football program
Public schools serving the neighborhood are overseen by Long Beach Unified School District, which runs a number of highly-ranked magnet schools. Roosevelt Elementary has a B-minus rating on Niche, while Washington Middle School has a C-plus. Long Beach Polytechnic High School, located in the heart of the neighborhood, has an A rating. Poly High, as its locally known, is one of the largest high schools in Greater LA, and draws huge crowds for its football and basketball games — according to some sources the school has produced more NFL players than any other high school in the country.
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Green spaces and skate parks
Park space in Central is a bit limited, but there are some sizable recreation areas around Polytechnic High, including Peace Park, which features a playground and athletic fields. The neighborhood is also home to the California Recreation Park, which includes a teen area, gym, playground and the McBride Skate Plaza. When residents want to spend a little more time outdoors, they can always head to Long Beach’s titular beach, which is less than 2 miles away.
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Close to downtown events
Events in Central itself mostly involve Polytechnic High sporting events — particularly football. Locals are also just a mile or two from Downtown Long Beach, which offers endless opportunities for entertainment and nightlife and hosts a number of festivals throughout the year. Cambodia Town, which borders Central to the east, is known for its annual parade and festival, which celebrates Khmer culture.
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Getting around Long Beach
The Pacific Coast Highway and Long Beach Boulevard are the area’s two major thoroughfares, connecting residents to Interstate 710 and Downtown Long Beach, respectively. Most locals rely on cars to get around, but they can also hop on the Metro A line at the Pacific Coast Highway stop and take the light rail south to Downtown Long Beach or north all the way to Downtown LA. It’s about 5 miles from the neighborhood to Long Beach Airport, which offers flights to 27 destinations around the U.S.
Written By
Andrew Moreno
Photography Contributed By
Samuel Evans
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Allison Van Wig
Allison Van Wig
Keller Williams Coastal Prop.
(562) 582-8861
283 Total Sales
2 in Central
$725K - $845K Price Range
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Albert Marin
Albert Marin
Re/Max Top Producers
(951) 456-4305
71 Total Sales
1 in Central
$550,000 Price
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Marvin Phillip
Marvin Phillip
Y Realty
(562) 740-8346
35 Total Sales
1 in Central
$335,000 Price
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Jane Castillo
Jane Castillo
Keller Williams Realty
(424) 283-4769
26 Total Sales
1 in Central
$420,000 Price
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Frank Magdaleno
Frank Magdaleno
Responds QuicklyBayBrook Realty
(949) 529-3446
60 Total Sales
2 in Central
$375K - $625K Price Range
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Alberto Sanchez
Alberto Sanchez
Responds QuicklyCentury 21 A Better Service
(562) 261-8400
77 Total Sales
1 in Central
$484,850 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Peace Park
- Playground
Rosa Parks Park
- Trails
Transit
Airport
Long Beach (Daugherty Field)
7 min drive
Subway
Pacific Coast Highway Station
Bus
Pch & M.L. King SW
Bus
Atlantic & 16th SW
Bus
Pch & L.B. Blvd. SE
Bus
Pch & Junipero SW
Bus
Anaheim & Olive NW
Bus
Alamitos & 16th SW
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Central | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 6 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 6 | 4 |
| Robbery | 8 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 8 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 6 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Central Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Central, Long Beach sell after 32 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Central, Long Beach over the last 12 months is $382,500, up 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$385,000
Median Sale Price
$382,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$1,350,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$382,500
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$359,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
-3%
Last 12 months Home Sales
30
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
6%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$333
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
966
Number of Homes for Sale
3
Median Year Built
1923
Months of Supply
1.20
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,206
Significantly below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,340
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
856
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
998
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
4,791
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
11,834
Median Age
34
Population under 18
28.2%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
11.7%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$47,637
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$55,644
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
58.1%
Significantly below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
11.2%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
3.1%
% Population in Labor Force
61.7%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
12''
Average Winter Low Temperature
46°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
68
/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
91
/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
58
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: 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.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Cambodia Town
Cambodian culture and local businesses in east Long Beach
Hellman
Classic homes in one of Long Beach's official historic landmark neighborhoods
Saint Mary's
Downtown Long Beach neighborhood near Saint Mary's Medical Center
Sunrise
Historic Long Beach neighborhood close to downtown and highways
East Village
Long Beach's funky arts district, with walkable access to the best of Downtown
North Alamitos Beach
A vibrant Long Beach community with an artistic edge
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