States › California › West Athens

Is West Athens, CA expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 32 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,93210% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$72,476about $6,040/month · 17% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$718,100116% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 65% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 9.9 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $77,280 a year. That is $37 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other California cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of California. It is number 199 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

West Athens
$1,932
University of California-Davis
$1,670
Larkfield-Wikiup
$1,905
Good Hope
$1,620
August
$1,295
Topanga
$3,500+
Cloverdale
$1,522

How much do households earn in West Athens?

Under $25k
18.7%
$25k–50k
18.7%
$50k–100k
31.5%
$100k–150k
15.3%
$150k+
12.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 27.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in West Athens

SizeWest AthensU.S. average
Studio$1,549$1,338
1 bedroom$1,496$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,577$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,945$1,698
4 bedrooms$3,419$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is West Athens overall?

Everyday prices in California overall are 11% above the U.S. average (index 110.7, U.S. = 100).

Housing
154
Goods (food, clothes…)
106
Utilities
159
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for West Athens, so the California figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in West Athens

🏛️ Property tax$4,166a year · 0.58% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$109a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in West Athens

Commute to work25.8 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree24.4%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home55.2%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line15.3%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment10%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Athens?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $3,051 a month less.

Renting
$1,932
Owning
$4,983

Owning assumes a typical $718,100 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $71,810 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in West Athens, CA?

Renting in West Athens costs a median of about $1,932 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.

How much do I need to make to live in West Athens?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $77,280 a year, or $37 an hour at a full-time job.

Is West Athens cheap or expensive?

West Athens is rated Expensive: rent takes 32.0% of the typical household income of $72,476. It ranks 199th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.

How much are property taxes in West Athens?

The median homeowner in West Athens pays $4,166 a year in property taxes, about 0.58% of the median home value.

Is West Athens more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in California are 11% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in West Athens?

The median home value in West Athens is $718,100, about 9.9 times the typical yearly household income.

8,726 people live in West Athens. Numbers are typical (middle) values.