Cities
Los Angeles County has 88 incorporated cities. This page lists all of them by population using California Department of Finance E-1 estimates for January 1, 2026. The figures provide a consistent comparison of cities across the county and should be understood as population estimates rather than decennial census counts.
Los Angeles County Cities by Population
The City of Los Angeles is the county’s largest incorporated city, followed by Long Beach, Santa Clarita, Glendale, and Lancaster. Los Angeles County as a whole had an estimated population of 9,837,286 on January 1, 2026. Of that total, an estimated 983,184 residents lived in unincorporated areas rather than within one of the county’s 88 incorporated cities.
| City | Population |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 3,806,201 |
| Long Beach | 462,193 |
| Santa Clarita | 232,883 |
| Glendale | 193,286 |
| Lancaster | 178,159 |
| Palmdale | 166,118 |
| Pomona | 154,680 |
| Torrance | 143,363 |
| Pasadena | 141,145 |
| Downey | 112,279 |
| West Covina | 108,937 |
| El Monte | 108,192 |
| Burbank | 106,229 |
| Inglewood | 105,986 |
| Norwalk | 101,453 |
| Santa Monica | 94,237 |
| Compton | 93,937 |
| South Gate | 93,467 |
| Carson | 91,790 |
| Whittier | 88,029 |
| Hawthorne | 85,515 |
| Alhambra | 82,544 |
| Lakewood | 80,585 |
| Bellflower | 76,203 |
| Baldwin Park | 70,729 |
| Redondo Beach | 68,460 |
| Lynwood | 66,901 |
| Montebello | 62,994 |
| Gardena | 61,187 |
| Pico Rivera | 60,966 |
| Monterey Park | 59,649 |
| Arcadia | 57,095 |
| Diamond Bar | 53,538 |
| Huntington Park | 52,961 |
| Paramount | 52,353 |
| Rosemead | 51,295 |
| Glendora | 51,232 |
| Covina | 50,918 |
| Azusa | 48,549 |
| La Mirada | 47,998 |
| Cerritos | 47,554 |
| Rancho Palos Verdes | 40,893 |
| Culver City | 40,730 |
| San Gabriel | 39,838 |
| Monrovia | 39,094 |
| Bell Gardens | 38,484 |
| Claremont | 38,262 |
| La Puente | 37,237 |
| Temple City | 36,584 |
| West Hollywood | 35,283 |
| Manhattan Beach | 34,333 |
| San Dimas | 33,915 |
| Bell | 33,211 |
| Beverly Hills | 32,116 |
| La Verne | 31,466 |
| Lawndale | 31,130 |
| Walnut | 28,623 |
| South Pasadena | 26,380 |
| Duarte | 24,841 |
| Maywood | 24,448 |
| San Fernando | 23,976 |
| Calabasas | 22,763 |
| Cudahy | 22,234 |
| Lomita | 20,450 |
| La Cañada Flintridge | 19,994 |
| Agoura Hills | 19,565 |
| South El Monte | 19,489 |
| Santa Fe Springs | 19,229 |
| Hermosa Beach | 19,196 |
| El Segundo | 16,950 |
| Artesia | 16,205 |
| Hawaiian Gardens | 13,529 |
| Palos Verdes Estates | 13,016 |
| San Marino | 12,513 |
| Commerce | 12,145 |
| Signal Hill | 11,366 |
| Sierra Madre | 10,899 |
| Malibu | 9,637 |
| Rolling Hills Estates | 8,739 |
| Westlake Village | 8,167 |
| La Habra Heights | 5,493 |
| Avalon | 3,447 |
| Hidden Hills | 1,738 |
| Rolling Hills | 1,677 |
| Irwindale | 1,502 |
| Bradbury | 901 |
| Industry | 420 |
| Vernon | 204 |
Source: California Department of Finance E-1 Population and Housing Estimates. The January 1, 2026 figures are provisional estimates released in May 2026.
Incorporated Cities and Unincorporated Areas
Each of Los Angeles County’s 88 incorporated cities has its own municipal boundaries and city council. Areas outside those city boundaries are considered unincorporated Los Angeles County. In these areas, Los Angeles County departments provide municipal services, while the County Board of Supervisors serves as the local governing body.
Unincorporated communities are found throughout the county and vary widely in size and character. They are not separate incorporated cities and therefore are not included in the city population table above. The California Department of Finance estimated the county’s unincorporated population at 983,184 as of January 1, 2026.
Why Jurisdiction Matters for Public Services
Knowing whether an address is inside an incorporated city or an unincorporated area can be important when looking for public services. Planning, zoning, building permits, code enforcement, local road services, and other municipal functions may be handled by a city government in incorporated areas or by the appropriate Los Angeles County department in unincorporated areas.
A mailing address does not always identify the correct local jurisdiction. An address may use the name of a nearby city even when the property itself is located in an unincorporated part of Los Angeles County. This distinction can be especially important when determining which planning or permitting agency has authority over a property.
Residents who are uncertain about their jurisdiction should verify whether a property is within an incorporated city or an unincorporated area before contacting a planning, permitting, or other local government agency.
City and County Services
Public service responsibilities vary across Los Angeles County. Incorporated cities generally provide or arrange many municipal services within their boundaries, while Los Angeles County directly provides municipal services in unincorporated areas. County departments also administer county-level programs and services that may serve residents across multiple cities and communities.
For this reason, population size should not be used to determine which agency serves a particular address. The city list is useful for identifying incorporated municipalities and comparing population estimates, but questions about permits, planning, public safety, records, health services, property matters, or other government programs should be directed to the agency responsible for the specific address and service.
Understanding the Population Estimates
The figures shown above are the California Department of Finance E-1 population estimates for January 1, 2026. The Department of Finance released the estimates in May 2026 and identifies the January 2026 figures as provisional. The estimates incorporate 2020 Census counts and use updated information on housing units, occupancy, household size, household population, and group quarters population to estimate city and unincorporated-area populations.
The Department of Finance uses its Housing Unit Method for city and unincorporated-area estimates. The method combines changes in housing units with estimates of occupancy, household size, household population, and group quarters population. The underlying data include information from the U.S. Census Bureau, the American Community Survey, local jurisdictions, and state and federal agencies.
Because these figures are estimates rather than a new decennial census count, they may be revised in later state releases. They are appropriate for general population comparisons among Los Angeles County cities, but users who need figures for official reporting, funding, legal, or statistical purposes should confirm the latest data published by the California Department of Finance.