WATTS PROFILE
WATTS COMMUNITY STUDIO
Prepared by Heather Anderson
The average age of Watts residents is 24 years, significantly
younger than the Los Angeles County average of 35.
Watts is a family neighborhood, with 39% of residents under 18. Residents are predominantly Hispanic or
Latino (70%), and Black or African American (28%). Reflecting that identity, Spanish is spoken at over twothirds of homes in Watts. Watts residents are slightly less likely to be foreign born than LA County residents.
Spanish is spoken at a larger percentage of homes in Watts
(68%) than in Los Angeles County (39%).
As a community of young people, 36% of residents are enrolled in school. Watts residents over 25 have
largely attained less education than LA County residents.
Percent high school graduate or higher
Percent bachelor's degree or higher
Watts
LA County
47.40%
76.10%
3.37%
29.20%
The majority of Watts households are family households, with just over half including children or youth. In
Watts, there is a higher percentage of single-parents than in LA County (most significantly for women). There
is also a higher ratio of grandparents who are responsible for their grandkids.
Watts households average 4.3 people, while LA County
households average 2.98. This is consistent with the fact
that Watts is a family neighborhood.
Watts experiences a higher poverty rate than LA County. Almost 30% of Watts households earn less than
$15,000 per year. The ACS unemployment estimate for Watts is 12.87%, higher than the unemployment
estimate of 9.8% for LA County. Appropriately, households in Watts are accessing Social Security Income,
cash public assistance and food stamps more often than County households to remedy their lack of
resources. Nearly a third of Watts households receive food stamps or SNAP benefits.
The median household income for Watts, $28,700, is well
below the median income for LA County households ($56,266).
‘Production, transportation and material moving’ jobs is the largest occupation category of Watts residents,
followed closely by ‘Service occupations’. This differs from LA County’s ‘Management, business, science and
arts’ jobs dominance. Watts’ ‘Sales and office’ jobs also are important to residents; Watts has this focus in
common with LA County.
WATTS PROFILE
The industry breakdown of employment shows that Watts and LA County both lead by jobs in the industry
category ‘Educational services, health care and social assistance’. Watts is unique to LA County in that
residents are more likely to be employed by the ‘Construction and transportation, warehousing and utilities’
industry. Industries such as information, finance and real estate, and professional, scientific and management employ Watts residents less than in the County as a whole.
A higher percentage of Watts households than LA County households have no access to a car. Accordingly,
Watts residents are slightly more likely to carpool and take public transportation. This difference between
Watts and LA County resident commute does not equal a difference in commute time; mean travel time to
work is roughly 30 minutes for residents of Watts and the County.
The homeownership rate in Watts is 30%.
When examining the affordability of housing in a community, the factor most often explored is housing cost
burden (the percentage of income that households spend on rent or owner costs). Contemporary metrics
assert that when a household spends 35% or more of their income on housing, it is a financial burden. This
burden is especially heavy for low-income households. More than half of the households in Watts are paying
over 35% of their income on housing.
Percentage of households paying 35% or
more of their income on housing costs
Homeowning households
Renter households
Watts
LA County
53.65%
37.68%
64.09%
48.50%
After the housing bubble bust of 2007, an assessment of foreclosures is important. The latest data available
through HUD on foreclosures is for 2007-2008, at which time the foreclosure rate was higher in Watts than
for the County. Additionally, Watts homeowners were more likely to have a high cost loan.
Foreclosure Rate
High Cost Loan Rate
Watts
11.05%
51.34%
LA County
6.50%
24.52%
As 88% of Watts homeowners have mortgages, finding the current foreclosure rate continues to be a goal of
this research.
Creating an inventory of affordable housing enables an understanding of affordable housing availability,
and implies what programs have been most successful. To date, this research has cataloged 2,440 housing
units of public housing and 661 affordable units through incentivized private development. Generally,
vacancy rate is also considered an indicator of availability. The housing vacancy rate in Watts is 7.15%, which
is 1% higher than the County.
WATTS PROFILE
While building type in Watts is similar to the County, the buildings in Watts are older.
The median home value in Watts is $280,000, compared to
$478,300 for LA County.
Preliminary data review shows that the quality of housing in Watts mirrors that of the County. This assessment includes public housing. In public housing inspection scores, the County averages 80. In the inspection of three of the four public housing developments in Watts, only one scored below 80. Jordan Downs
received a 73. Where the quality of housing in Watts housing differs from the County is in the number of
units overcrowded.
In Watts, 12% of housing units are overcrowded, and 16%
are severely overcrowded. These are higher rates than the
County’s (at 7% and 5% respectively).
Watts households are as mobile as the County’s households. 68% of households moved into their current
home since 2000.
For the complete data set, refer to the following tables.
DEMOGRAPHICS, SOCIAL
Total population
WATTS
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
39,593
9,818,605
Age
Under 18
15,452
39.03%
2,402,208
24.47%
18 - 64
22,207
56.09%
6,350,698
64.68%
1,934
4.88%
1,065,699
10.85%
65 years and over
Median age (years)
23.9
34.8
Gender
Male population
18,775
47.42%
4,839,654
49.30%
Female population
20,818
52.58%
4,978,951
50.70%
27,657
69.85%
4,687,889
47.74%
343
0.87%
2,728,321
27.79%
11,071
27.96%
815,086
8.30%
American Indian and Alaska Native
64
0.16%
18,886
0.19%
Asian
Native Hawaiian and Other Paci c
Islander
74
0.19%
1,325,671
13.50%
35
0.09%
22,464
0.23%
Some Other Race
43
0.11%
25,367
0.26%
1,614
4.08%
438,713
4.47%
27,657
69.85%
4,687,889
47.74%
21,127
53.36%
3,510,677
35.76%
112
0.28%
44,609
0.45%
35
0.09%
41,350
0.42%
6,383
16.12%
1,091,253
11.11%
11,936
30.15%
5,130,716
52.26%
Hispanic or Latino and Race
Hispanic or Latino
White
Black or African American
Two or More Races
Hispanic or Latino
Hispanic or Latino
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Cuban
Other Hispanic or Latino
Not Hispanic or Latino
DEMOGRAPHICS, SOCIAL
WATTS
LA COUNTY
Language
English only
31.64%
!"#!$%
Language other than English
68.36%
&'#'$%
31.60%
('#)$%
67.94%
"*#!$%
31.43%
+)#)$%
0.18%
&#!$%
Speak English less than "very well"
0.00%
(#+$%
Asian and Paci c Islander languages
0.24%
+$#)$%
Speak English less than "very well"
0.16%
&#'$%
0.01%
+#$$%
0.01%
$#"$%
Native
68.33%
'!#!$%
Born
United Rico,
StatesU.S. Island areas, or
Born in
in Puerto
born abroad to American parent(s)
67.88%
'"#&$%
0.45%
$#*$%
31.67%
"&#'$%
100.00%
+$$#$$%
Entered 2000 or later
16.18%
("#!$%
Entered before 2000
83.82%
,'#'$%
Nursery school, preschool
6.68%
&#,$%
Kindergarten
5.74%
!#,$%
Elementary school (grades 1-8)
47.94%
",#)$%
High school (grades 9-12)
27.21%
((#&$%
College or graduate school
12.43%
(*#"$%
Speak English less than "very well"
Spanish
Speak English less than "very well"
Other Indo-European languages
Other languages
Speak English less than "very well"
Place of Birth
Foreign born
Date of Entry
Foreign born
School Enrollment
DEMOGRAPHICS, SOCIAL
WATTS
LA COUNTY
Education Attainment
Less than 9th grade
31.96%
13.80%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma
High school graduate (includes
equivalency)
20.64%
10.10%
26.74%
20.80%
Some college, no degree
14.06%
19.20%
Associate's degree
3.24%
6.80%
Bachelor's degree
2.28%
19.10%
Graduate or professional degree
1.09%
10.10%
Percent high school graduate or higher
47.40%
76.10%
Percent bachelor's degree or higher
3.37%
29.20%
WATTS
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Households
Total households
9,091
100.00%
3,241,204
100.00%
Family households
7,610
83.71%
2,194,080
67.69%
With own children under 18
5,066
55.73%
1,052,977
32.49%
3,419
37.61%
1,480,665
45.68%
2,379
26.17%
721,804
22.27%
883
9.71%
216,368
6.68%
Husband-wife family
With own children under 18
Male householder, no wife present
With own
children under
18
Female
householder,
no husband
present
454
4.99%
92,161
2.84%
3,979
43.77%
497,047
15.34%
With own children under 18
2,682
29.50%
239,012
7.37%
1,481
16.29%
1,047,124
32.31%
1,319
14.51%
784,928
24.22%
562
6.18%
360,530
11.12%
194
2.13%
76,109
2.35%
757
8.33%
424,398
13.09%
330
3.63%
169,632
5.23%
Households with people under 18
6,604
72.64%
1,220,021
37.64%
Households with people 65 and over
1,749
19.24%
790,386
24.39%
Nonfamily households
Householder living alone
Male
65 years and over
Female
65 years and over
Average household size
4.30
2.98
DEMOGRAPHICS, SOCIAL
WATTS
LA COUNTY
Grandparents
Number of grandparents living with own
grandchildren under 18
100.00%
100.00%
35.26%
25.80%
Less than 1 year
8.19%
5.00%
1 or 2 years
7.27%
5.90%
3 or 4 years
3.67%
4.30%
16.12%
10.60%
3.00%
4.80%
Responsible for grandchildren
Years responsible for children
5 or more years
Veteran Status
Civilian veterans
ECONOMICS
WATTS
LA COUNTY
Income
Less than $10,000
18.45%
6.10%
$10,000 to $14,999
10.80%
5.90%
$15,000 to $24,999
18.59%
10.40%
$25,000 to $34,999
10.10%
9.70%
$35,000 to $49,999
15.39%
12.80%
$50,000 to $74,999
13.12%
17.40%
$75,000 to $99,999
6.20%
12.00%
$100,000 to $149,999
4.88%
13.60%
$150,000 to $199,999
1.46%
5.80%
$200,000 or more
0.47%
6.30%
Median household income (dollars)
28,700
56,266
Percent Unemployed
!"#$%&
9.80%
Bene ts
Households with Social Security
23.72%
22.20%
6.60%
11.60%
11.77%
5.80%
19.85%
3.90%
32.89%
6.20%
Management, business, science, and arts
occupations
12.42%
35.00%
Service occupations
24.22%
18.20%
Sales and o ce occupations
Natural resources, construction, and
maintenance occupations
Production, transportation, and material
moving occupations
21.54%
25.60%
15.80%
8.30%
26.02%
13.00%
Households with retirement income
Households with Supplemental Security
Income
Households with cash public assistance
income
Households with Food Stamp/SNAP
bene ts in the past 12 months
Occupation
ECONOMICS
WATTS
LA COUNTY
Occupation by Industry
Agriculture, forestry, shing and hunting,
and mining
0.52%
0.50%
Construction
10.39%
6.00%
Manufacturing
13.86%
11.20%
Wholesale trade
5.24%
3.70%
10.47%
10.60%
9.24%
5.20%
1.15%
4.40%
3.56%
6.70%
9.86%
12.10%
16.70%
20.20%
8.14%
9.90%
8.24%
6.10%
2.63%
3.40%
No vehicles available
22.92%
9.60%
1 vehicle available
35.85%
34.80%
2 vehicles available
26.28%
35.10%
3 or more vehicles available
14.95%
20.40%
Car, truck, or van -- drove alone
65.62%
72.20%
Car, truck, or van -- carpooled
13.84%
11.10%
Public transportation
12.08%
7.10%
Walked
1.74%
2.90%
Other means
2.44%
2.00%
Worked at home
4.28%
4.70%
30.3
29.1
Retail trade
Transportation and warehousing, and
utilities
Information
Finance and insurance, and real estate
and rental and leasing
and administrative and waste
management services
Educational services, and health care and
social assistance
Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and
accommodation and food services
Other services, except public
administration
Public administration
Availability of Vehicle, Household
Commute to Work, Individuals
Mean travel time to work (minutes)
HOUSING
WATTS
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Tenure
Occupied housing units
9,091
100.00%
3,241,204
100.00%
Owner-occupied housing units
2,735
30.08%
1,544,749
47.66%
Renter-occupied housing units
6,356
69.92%
1,696,455
52.34%
14,094
36.06%
4,878,845
50.57%
24,991
63.94%
4,768,079
49.43%
Population in owner-occupied housing
units
Population in renter-occupied housing
units
Average household size of owneroccupied units
Average household size of renteroccupied units
5.15
3.16
3.93
2.81
Occupancy/Vacancy
Total housing units
Occupied housing units
Vacant housing units
9,791
100.00%
3,445,076
100.00%
9,091
92.85%
3,241,204
94.08%
700
7.15%
203,872
5.92%
WATTS
LA COUNTY
Mortgage Status of Owner Occupied Units
Housing units with a mortgage
87.70%
76.90%
Housing units without a mortgage
12.30%
23.10%
Less than 25.0 %
31.63%
44.37%
25.0 to 34.9 %
14.73%
17.95%
35.0 % or more
53.65%
37.68%
Less than 25.0 %
16.19%
30.69%
25.0 to 34.9 %
19.72%
20.80%
35.0 % or more
64.09%
48.50%
A ordability
Owner Costs as a Percentage of Income
Rent Costs as a Percentage of Income
HOUSING
WATTS
LA COUNTY
Housing Bubble Bust
Foreclosure Rate, 2007-2008
!!"#$%
&"$#%
High Cost Loan Rate, 2007-2008
$!"'(%
)("$)%
Housing Characteristics, Quality
Building Type, Size
1-unit, detached
48.71%
49.90%
1-unit, attached
11.83%
6.60%
2 units
3.74%
2.40%
3 or 4 units
6.43%
5.70%
5 to 9 units
10.02%
7.90%
2.87%
7.80%
15.92%
18.10%
Mobile home
0.48%
1.60%
Boat, RV, van, etc.
0.00%
0.10%
Built 2005 or later
3.43%
2.10%
Built 2000 to 2004
6.42%
3.20%
Built 1990 to 1999
6.11%
6.10%
Built 1980 to 1989
7.63%
11.70%
Built 1970 to 1979
9.43%
14.30%
Built 1960 to 1969
14.76%
15.20%
Built 1950 to 1959
15.35%
20.90%
Built 1940 to 1949
16.85%
11.30%
Built 1939 or earlier
20.02%
15.10%
10 to 19 units
20 or more units
Year Built
HOUSING
WATTS
LA COUNTY
Value
Less than $50,000
1.01%
2.30%
$50,000 to $99,999
1.72%
1.90%
$100,000 to $149,999
12.60%
2.10%
$150,000 to $199,999
13.54%
3.20%
$200,000 to $299,999
24.46%
11.00%
$300,000 to $499,999
39.30%
33.10%
$500,000 to $999,999
7.37%
35.90%
$1,000,000 or more
0.00%
10.60%
Median home value (dollars)
478,300
!"#$###
Quality Indicators
Lacking complete plumbing facilities
0.75%
0.60%
Lacking complete kitchen facilities
1.08%
1.60%
No telephone service available
4.60%
2.60%
1.00 or less
72.28%
88.00%
1.01 to 1.50
11.97%
7.10%
1.51 or more
15.75%
4.90%
Moved in 2005 or later
40.26%
38.70%
Moved in 2000 to 2004
27.98%
21.60%
Moved in 1990 to 1999
16.55%
20.50%
Moved in 1980 to 1989
7.74%
8.80%
Moved in 1970 to 1979
3.67%
5.80%
Moved in 1969 or earlier
3.80%
4.50%
Occupants Per Room
Year Householder Moved In
Public Housing Inspection Scores
Development
Imperial Courts
Score
80
Jordan Downs
73
Nickerson Gardens
90
Average Score, Los Angeles County:
80
NOTES ON DATA
This exploration of data about Watts uses the boundaries of City Council District 15. The CD15
boundaries coincide with Census Tract boundaries, enabling reliable data collection through the U.S.
Census Bureau and other sources. For purposes of this study, Watts includes Census Tracts 2420,
2421, 2422, 2423, 2426, 2427, 2430 and 2431.
DATA SOURCES
Decennial Census, 2010
http://fact nder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/searchresults.xhtml?refresh=t
Population
Age
Gender
Hispanic or Latino and Race
Hispanic or Latino
Households
Tenure
Occupancy/Vacancy
American Community Survey, 5-year estimate, 2007-2011
http://fact nder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/searchresults.xhtml?refresh=t
Language
Place of Birth
Date of Entry
School Enrollment
Education Attainment
Grandparents
Veteran Status
Income
Bene ts
Occupation
Occupation by Industry
Availability of Vehicle, Household
Commute to Work, Individuals
Mortgage Status of Owner Occupied Units
Owner Costs as a Percentage of Income
Renter Costs as a Percentage of Income
Building Type, Size
Year Built
Value
Quality Indicators
Occupants Per Room
Year Householder Moved In
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/NSP.html
Neighborhood Stabilization Program data, 2007-2008 (18 month-long period)
Public Housing Inspection Scores, 2001-2009
Housing Bubble Bust
Public Housing Inspection Scores