Planning on Moving to Alhambra, CA?

Alhambra was incorporated on July 11, 1903. It grew into one of the most densely settled cities in California, with about 10,500 people per square mile. Just over half of residents are Asian, and about 35 percent are Hispanic or Latino. Almost 45 percent were born outside the United States. That mix shows up on Main Street and Valley Boulevard, where Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican, and Taiwanese restaurants sit side by side. This guide covers the cost of living, schools, weather, job market, crime rates, and daily pros and cons before you sign a lease or close on a house.

Cost of Living in Alhambra

Alhambra is expensive, and housing is the main reason. Salary.com puts the 2026 cost of living at about 43 percent above the national average. Housing runs close to 28 percent above average.

Here is what monthly costs look like for most households.

Rents track the wider San Gabriel Valley. The average apartment rent sits near $2,699 a month. Studios average about $2,251 and one-bedroom units about $2,484. Two bedroom units run near $2,861.

Buying costs more. The median list price in early 2026 was near $788,000, but closed sales landed between $880,000 and $950,000 depending on the month. Median household income is about $88,024. That gap is the hardest part of the math for first-time buyers.

Schools and Education

Alhambra Unified School District serves the city and parts of Monterey Park and San Gabriel. It runs 16 schools and teaches about 14,549 students. The district ranks in the top 20 percent of California districts.

Test scores sit well above the state line. Math proficiency is about 52 percent against a state average of 34 percent. Reading proficiency is about 62 percent against 47 percent statewide.

The district has three high schools:

• Mark Keppel High School, ranked around 132nd in California, with a four-year graduation rate near 97.5 percent
• San Gabriel High School, ranked around 248th in the state
• Alhambra High School, ranked around 354th in the state

Most elementary campuses run kindergarten through eighth grade, so students stay in one school for nine years. Higher education is close too. Alhambra Medical University, Platt College Los Angeles, and the California Institute of Advanced Management are inside the city. East Los Angeles College, Cal State LA, Pasadena City College, and Caltech are all short drives away.

Weather in Alhambra

The climate is Mediterranean. Summers are hot and dry. Winters are mild and damp. August is the warmest month, with highs near 87 degrees and lows near 66. December is the coolest, with highs near 63 and lows near 48. The city averages about 16 inches of rain a year and around 281 sunny days. Snow does not fall here.

Two things surprise newcomers. Santa Ana winds arrive in fall and push heat and dry air across the valley. Summer smog also settles in the San Gabriel Valley more than it does near the coast.

Jobs and the Local Economy

About 41,500 Alhambra residents hold jobs. The biggest sectors for residents are health care and social assistance, educational services, and manufacturing.

Most people commute out. The average one-way commute is about 30 minutes, and the daytime population drops by roughly 18 percent as workers leave the city. Downtown Los Angeles is about 20 minutes away without traffic. Pasadena, Glendale, and the City of Industry are all within reach.

Small business matters here. Main Street and Valley Boulevard hold hundreds of independent restaurants, bakeries, clinics, and shops. The city has also backed new mixed-use projects along Main Street and Garfield Avenue.

Crime Rate in Alhambra

FBI data for 2024 recorded 177 violent crimes in Alhambra. That works out to about 225 per 100,000 residents, roughly 37 percent below the national rate. Property crime is the weaker number. The city logged 1,932 property crimes, or about 2,451 per 100,000 residents, which runs close to 39 percent above the national rate.

Both categories are trending down. Violent crime fell about 9 percent year over year. Property crime fell about 3 percent. Vehicle break-ins, package theft, and catalytic converter theft drive most of the reports.

The Alhambra Police Department staffs about 124 sworn officers. Safety also varies by street. Emery Park, Alhambra Hills, West Shorb, and Almansor Park usually score highest in neighborhood safety reviews.

Pros and Cons of Living in Alhambra

Things to Do in Alhambra

Main Street is the heart of the city. It holds bars, dessert shops, steakhouses, ramen counters, and the Regal Edwards Alhambra Renaissance cinema.

Other regular stops include:

• Almansor Park, the largest green space in the city, with a lake, courts, trails, and playing fields
• Alhambra Golf Course, an 18-hole public course next to Almansor Park
• Alhambra Park, with a pool, splash area, playground, and a veterans memorial
• The Alhambra Farmers Market on South Second Street, open Sundays
• Gallery Nucleus, an art gallery with rotating shows
• Atlantic Times Square, an open-air center with food, shops, and parking
• The San Gabriel Valley Lunar New Year Parade and Festival, cohosted with San Gabriel

Mission San Gabriel Arcangel, The Huntington, and Old Town Pasadena all sit within a short drive.

Make the Move Easier

Once the paperwork is done, the last job is getting your furniture across town without damage. Simple Moving Company is a licensed and insured moving company that works across Los Angeles County every week, including Alhambra and the rest of the San Gabriel Valley. Local moves are billed by the hour with a three-hour minimum, and long-distance moves get a flat rate. Blankets, wardrobe boxes, shrink wrap, dollies, and basic insurance come at no extra charge.