When thinking about urban density, one of the first cities that come to mind is New York City. This theory was debunked a few years ago when KPBS published a report on population density. As it turns out, Los Angeles is considered the most densely populated city in the nation.

Urban density is measured by the number of people per unit in an area, usually per square mile or kilometer. While this information tells you which neighborhoods in a city might be overcrowded, it doesn’t include the full details. For example, some places are indeed small and overcrowded, while other areas are extremely livable with many mid- to high-rise developments. Based on U.S. Census data and population ranking guides, Neighborhoods.com complied a list of LA County’s most dense and least dense cities.

Most Densely Populated Cities

Maywood photo courtesy of Justefrain

Maywood

Spanning a total of 1.18 square miles, the small city of Maywood is located towards the southeast of LA County. With nearly 24,000 people per square mile living in the city, it’s considered Southern California’s most densely populated city. The city consists of affordable single-family homes and low-rise developments, and it offers homeowners a convenient commute to the surrounding metropolitans of Los Angeles and Downey. With four shopping centers, a senior citizens complex, a recreational facility, and hundreds of mom-and-pop businesses, this small city sits at the top of the list. 

Huntington Park

Another densely populated city is Huntington Park, which is part of LA County’s Gateway Cities or Southeast LA County. With approximately 19,500 people per square mile, the city has become highly urbanized with many shopping strips, movie theaters, and boutique shops. There are also over 31 acres of recreational parks with family-friendly amenities such as playgrounds, picnic spaces, athletic centers, and a skate park. Popular city parks include Robert Keller Park and Salt Lake Park which is home to the city’s local skate park.

West Hollywood

A city that has it all, West Hollywoodis a premiere destination for tourists, working professionals, entertainers, and people looking to find a home. Since this urban city is tucked between the popular neighborhoods of Fairfax, Hollywood, and Century City, it’s nearly always bustling—even at night. With nearly 19,000 residents per square mile, West Hollywood is among Southern California’s most densely populated cities. This is no surprise, especially since many residents are attracted to the shops, nightclubs, parks, and bars along Santa Monica Boulevard. This city also hosts LA’s largest annual Pride Parade at its town center, and that’s just one out of the many events throughout the year.

Least Densely Populated Cities

Glendora with San Gabriel Mountains photo courtesy of jaymanuel

Glendora

The city of Glendora, which is situated 27 miles east of Downtown LA (DTLA) in the San Gabriel Valley, is considered one of Southern California’s least densely populated cities. With approximately 2,600 residents per square mile and a total population of 50,900 people, the city has plenty of room to accommodate spacious residential communities, sprawling parks, and tree-lined neighborhood streets.

Due to the city sitting at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, the lack of urban density might be attributed to the city’s hillside terrain. However, this might change soon after the Metro completes its Foothill Gold Line station from Glendora to Montclair, which is expected to be completed by 2026.

Agoura Hills

With approximately 2,637 people per square mile, Agoura Hills is an affluent hillside city located near the Santa Monica Mountains. It’s popular for its recreational activities, such as golfing, hiking, bike trails, and wine and safari tours. Due to the area’s lack of traffic, there’s an abundance of greenspace. The city is also known to have a welcoming environment and is home to families with children, professionals, and retirees. A popular activity for both locals and visitors is horseback riding at Malibu Riders on Cornell Road.

Claremont

About 30 miles from DTLA on LA County’s eastside is the historic, tree-lined city of Claremont. It has approximately 2,637 residents per square mile and a population total of 35,600. It was once voted LA’s 5th“Best Place to Live in the Nation” by CNN Money and “Best Suburb in the West” by Sunset Magazine. Claremont has a large number of residents who have their doctorates—most likely due to the fact that the city is home to the reputable Claremont Colleges. According to the LA Times, Claremont is often referred to as the “city of trees and PhDs.”