City Profile: Cerritos

Sitting southeast of Los Angeles, Cerritos is a small city among many others that make up the Gateway Cities in Los Angeles County. It lies just northeast of Long Beach and west of Anaheim. Cerritos, which translates from Spanish to “little hills”, was originally known as Dairy Valley for its numerous dairy farms. Now Cerritos is a quickly growing city that is drawing attention and new residents every year.

Cerritos has a strong economy and prosperous residents.

The estimated population of Cerritos is 49,859 as of 2019. The racial makeup is 69.1% Asian, 23.1% white, 6.9% African American, and 6.9% other races. The median age in the area was 44 as of the 2010 census, and the average household size was 3.15. Cerritos is a prosperous city, with a median household income of over $105,000, which is significantly higher than the California average. 81.9% of households in the city are occupied by the owner, and 18.1% are rented. However, Cerritos is a suitable location for rental property, with a rental vacancy rate of just 3.1%. The estimated median house value is over $750,000 and median monthly rent is about $2,400.

The economy of Cerritos depends heavily on the retail and industrial sectors. Most of the employment for residents comes from Los Cerritos Shopping Center and Cerritos Industrial Park. The United Parcel Service is the city’s biggest employer with over 6,000 employees, followed by the ABC Unified School District with 3,500 employees. Cerritos residents are ranked the second-highest retail spenders in California.

Well-performing schools and cultural diversity make Cerritos a popular spot for families.

Cerritos makes a great home for families with over 28 park and recreation facilities and an impressive education record. It is home to Whitney High School, ranked the best school in California, and Valley Christian High School, one of the largest Protestant schools in the county. Additionally, the Cerritos Olympic Swim & Fitness Center offers year-round recreational and competitive swimming and was used by Olympians for practice during the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Cerritos is a beautiful bustling town featuring gorgeous suburban neighborhoods and quaint retail areas. It is best known for the Cerritos Millennium Library, which holds a Smithsonian Affiliation and an Award of Excellence from the American Library Association and the American Institute of Architects. It was originally constructed with a “First Ladies” theme and has since seen multiple multi-million-dollar renovations. As the first building in the United States to be covered in titanium panels, this library is the number one must-see in Cerritos.

The city also boasts art and culture via the “Art in Public Places Program”, in which the city commissions local artists to create sculptures and displays in points of interest throughout the city. You can also visit the Cerritos Sculpture Garden in the civic center for more beautiful art displays. The downtown area features a plethora of restaurants, shops, and other fun activities. And with a unique, “semi-marine” climate that deters the devastating heat commonly seen in Los Angeles, it is no wonder that so many Californians are happy to call Cerritos home.