The Los Angeles metro is home to 13,012,469 people (down 1.9% over five years), with a median household income of $93,525. Typical rent of $2,929/month works out to 37.6% of the median household income — above the 30% affordability threshold, a strain signal (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Los Angeles's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 21.5% |
| Professional & management | 14.0% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 10.4% |
| Retail trade | 9.8% |
| Manufacturing | 9.4% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 37.6% of median income leave little headroom — expect tenant price sensitivity. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Los Angeles market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $2,929/month suggests a household income around $117,000/year. The metro's median household income is $93,525.
By workforce share: Education & health care (21.5%), Professional & management (14.0%), Arts, food & hospitality (10.4%) (Census ACS 5-year).