Whittier, California Housing Market

What stands out in Whittier?

• Population is down 3.8% over five years: among the steepest population decline of 765 tracked cities. A shrinking population thins demand over time.
• Asking prices swing about 4.4% between the cheapest and priciest months: among the flattest seasonal prices of 765 tracked cities. The month you buy matters little here.

What does a shrinking population mean for Whittier landlords?

The population in Whittier's ZIP codes fell 3.8% over five years. 4.0% of homes are vacant, lower than most tracked cities. Households fell 0.3% while the housing stock changed +0.7%. Fewer households means a thinner tenant pool. Budget extra vacancy and buy where renters already concentrate.

What is the fair market rent in Whittier?

HUD sets one fair market rent for Los Angeles County. For fiscal year 2026:

• 1 bedroom: $2,085 a month. Up 0% on last year, up 81% since FY2016.
• 2 bedrooms: $2,601 a month. Down 1% on last year, up 75% since FY2016.
• 3 bedrooms: $3,298 a month. Down 1% on last year, up 64% since FY2016.
• 4 bedrooms: $3,672 a month. Down 1% on last year, up 65% since FY2016.

The figures include tenant-paid utilities and apply to all of Los Angeles County, so one home's rent can sit well above or below them. See fair market rent by city.

Who will rent from you in Whittier?

In Whittier, 36 out of every 100 households rent. Most own their home. That share has held steady for five years. Renter households here average 3.0 people. Families rent here. Buy bedrooms. Studios will sit.

The median Whittier household earns $101,492 a year. Incomes here have grown 5.8% a year since 2019. Incomes are rising faster than home prices. Affordability is improving. A typical home costs 8.6 times the median income. Most locals cannot buy. That keeps rental demand deep. It also caps the rent they can pay. At 30% of income, a tenant on the median income can pay about $2,537 a month.

To see what one Whittier address would rent for and cash flow, run it through the app.

Is now a good time to buy in Whittier?

Asking prices are at their highest point on record. You are buying at the top. Underwrite it that way. Prices are still falling. Waiting has paid off so far. Let listings age, then come back lower. Whittier prices have risen in 93 of the last 111 months. Drops here have been short and shallow. Buying in a slow month has rarely hurt a long hold.

This market is turning. Which way is not settled yet. Check the monthly numbers above before you commit.

When do Whittier prices dip?

Across 9 full years, Whittier asking prices ran lowest in January, about 3.0% below the year's average. They peaked in June. The most homes for sale show up in August, about 14% above the yearly average. Shop in August for choice, and expect the softest asking prices in January.

What numbers should you underwrite a Whittier deal with?

• Price growth to assume — +3.2%/yr. Whittier has grown about 3.2% a year for five years and for ten. That pace held before and after the 2020–2021 boom, so it is a fair long-run input. Prices fell 3.4% over the last year. Use it for timing. The five-year rate is the better guide.
• Odds you cut your price to sell — 1 in 6. 17% of Whittier listings have cut their asking price. Underwrite your exit below asking.
• Competition when you exit — +12%. Homes for sale in Whittier are up 12% on last year, so your resale faces more competition than today's comps did.

Read how population change affects rentals and how we read these numbers, then run the numbers on a deal.

What is the median home price in Whittier?

The median asking price in Whittier is about $877,000 as of Sep 2026, up 3.9% from a year ago. The typical listing is 2% larger than a year ago, and asking price per square foot is down 3.4%. So the size of homes on the market explains much of the rise. This is the asking price on homes listed for sale. Sites that report sold prices or estimated home values will show a different number. Our Whittier figures cover the 10 ZIP codes with a Whittier mailing address, which can reach past city limits.

Is Whittier a buyer's or seller's market in 2026?

Neither side has the upper hand in Whittier right now. We compare Whittier with 2017–2019 at this time of year: there are 50 pending sales per 100 listings, against 73 then; the typical listing has been up 27% more days; there are 13% fewer homes for sale.

Are Whittier home prices going up or down?

Asking prices are at their highest point on record. You are buying at the top. Underwrite it that way. Prices are still falling. Waiting has paid off so far. Let listings age, then come back lower.

Which Whittier ZIP code has the most negotiating room?

90601. Only 31 homes under contract for every 100 still for sale. 27% of sellers there have cut their price, and the typical listing has been up 44 days.

How long do homes stay on the market in Whittier?

The typical Whittier listing has been on the market 43 days. That is 16% shorter than a year ago.

What is the fair market rent in Whittier?

HUD's fiscal year 2026 fair market rent for Los Angeles County is $2,601 a month for 2 bedrooms and $3,298 for 3 bedrooms. The figures include tenant-paid utilities and cover the whole county.