WATTS PROFILEWATTS COMMUNITY STUDIOPrepared by Heather Anderson

The average age of Watts residents is 24 years, signi!cantlyyounger 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%). Re!ecting that identity, Spanish is spoken at over two-thirds 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.

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 signi"cantly for women). There is also a higher ratio of grandparents who are responsible for their grandkids.

Watts households average 4.3 people, while LA Countyhouseholds 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 bene"ts.

The median household income for Watts, $28,700, is wellbelow 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 di#ers from LA County’s ‘Management, business, science and arts’ jobs dominance. Watts’ ‘Sales and o$ce’ jobs also are important to residents; Watts has this focus in common with LA County.

Watts LA County Percent high school graduate or higher 47.40% 76.10% Percent bachelor's degree or higher 3.37% 29.20%

WATTS PROFILEThe 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, !nance and real estate, and professional, scienti!c and manage-ment 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 di"erence between Watts and LA County resident commute does not equal a di"erence 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 a"ordability 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 !nancial 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.

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.

As 88% of Watts homeowners have mortgages, !nding the current foreclosure rate continues to be a goal of this research.

Creating an inventory of a"ordable housing enables an understanding of a"ordable 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 a"ordable 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.

Percentage of households paying 35% or more of their income on housing costs Watts LA CountyHomeowning households 53.65% 37.68%Renter households 64.09% 48.50%

Watts LA CountyForeclosure Rate 11.05% 6.50%

High Cost Loan Rate 51.34% 24.52%

WATTS PROFILEWhile 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 assess-ment includes public housing. In public housing inspection scores, the County averages 80. In the inspec-tion 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 di!ers 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

AgeUnder 18 15,452 39.03% 2,402,208 24.47%

18 - 64 22,207 56.09% 6,350,698 64.68%

65 years and over 1,934 4.88% 1,065,699 10.85%

Median age (years)

GenderMale population 18,775 47.42% 4,839,654 49.30%

Female population 20,818 52.58% 4,978,951 50.70%

Hispanic or Latino and RaceHispanic or Latino 27,657 69.85% 4,687,889 47.74%

White 343 0.87% 2,728,321 27.79%

Black or African American 11,071 27.96% 815,086 8.30%

American Indian and Alaska Native 64 0.16% 18,886 0.19%

Asian 74 0.19% 1,325,671 13.50%Native Hawaiian and Other Paci c Islander 35 0.09% 22,464 0.23%

Some Other Race 43 0.11% 25,367 0.26%

Two or More Races 1,614 4.08% 438,713 4.47%

Hispanic or LatinoHispanic or Latino 27,657 69.85% 4,687,889 47.74%

Mexican 21,127 53.36% 3,510,677 35.76%

Puerto Rican 112 0.28% 44,609 0.45%

Cuban 35 0.09% 41,350 0.42%

Other Hispanic or Latino 6,383 16.12% 1,091,253 11.11%

Not Hispanic or Latino 11,936 30.15% 5,130,716 52.26%

WATTS LOS ANGELES COUNTY

39,593 9,818,605

23.9 34.8

DEMOGRAPHICS, SOCIAL

WATTS LA COUNTY

LanguageEnglish only 31.64% !"#!$%

Language other than English 68.36% &'#'$%

Speak English less than "very well" 31.60% ('#)$%

Spanish 67.94% "*#!$%

Speak English less than "very well" 31.43% +)#)$%

Other Indo-European languages 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% &#'$%

Other languages 0.01% +#$$%

Speak English less than "very well" 0.01% $#"$%

Place of BirthNative 68.33% '!#!$%

Born in United States 67.88% '"#&$%Born in Puerto Rico, U.S. Island areas, or born abroad to American parent(s) 0.45% $#*$%

Foreign born 31.67% "&#'$%

Date of EntryForeign born 100.00% +$$#$$%

Entered 2000 or later 16.18% ("#!$%

Entered before 2000 83.82% ,'#'$%

School EnrollmentNursery 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% (*#"$%

DEMOGRAPHICS, SOCIAL

WATTS LA COUNTY

Education AttainmentLess than 9th grade 31.96% 13.80%

9th to 12th grade, no diploma 20.64% 10.10%High school graduate (includes equivalency) 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%

HouseholdsTotal 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%

Husband-wife family 3,419 37.61% 1,480,665 45.68%

With own children under 18 2,379 26.17% 721,804 22.27%

Male householder, no wife present 883 9.71% 216,368 6.68%

With own children under 18 454 4.99% 92,161 2.84% Female householder, no husband present 3,979 43.77% 497,047 15.34%

With own children under 18 2,682 29.50% 239,012 7.37%

Nonfamily households 1,481 16.29% 1,047,124 32.31%

Householder living alone 1,319 14.51% 784,928 24.22%

Male 562 6.18% 360,530 11.12%

65 years and over 194 2.13% 76,109 2.35%

Female 757 8.33% 424,398 13.09%

65 years and over 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%

Average household size

WATTS LOS ANGELES COUNTY

4.30 2.98

DEMOGRAPHICS, SOCIAL

WATTS LA COUNTY

GrandparentsNumber of grandparents living with own grandchildren under 18 100.00% 100.00%

Responsible for grandchildren 35.26% 25.80%

Years responsible for children

Less than 1 year 8.19% 5.00%

1 or 2 years 7.27% 5.90%

3 or 4 years 3.67% 4.30%

5 or more years 16.12% 10.60%

Veteran Status Civilian veterans 3.00% 4.80%

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 tsHouseholds with Social Security 23.72% 22.20%

Households with retirement income 6.60% 11.60%Households with Supplemental Security Income 11.77% 5.80%Households with cash public assistance income 19.85% 3.90%Households with Food Stamp/SNAP bene ts in the past 12 months 32.89% 6.20%

OccupationManagement, business, science, and arts occupations 12.42% 35.00%

Service occupations 24.22% 18.20%

Sales and o ce occupations 21.54% 25.60%Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations 15.80% 8.30%Production, transportation, and material moving occupations 26.02% 13.00%

ECONOMICS

WATTS LA COUNTY

Occupation by IndustryAgriculture, 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%

Retail trade 10.47% 10.60%Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 9.24% 5.20%

Information 1.15% 4.40%Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing 3.56% 6.70%and administrative and waste management services 9.86% 12.10%Educational services, and health care and social assistance 16.70% 20.20%Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services 8.14% 9.90%Other services, except public administration 8.24% 6.10%

Public administration 2.63% 3.40%

Availability of Vehicle, HouseholdNo 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%

Commute to Work, IndividualsCar, 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%

Mean travel time to work (minutes) 30.3 29.1

HOUSING

TenureOccupied 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%

Population in owner-occupied housing units 14,094 36.06% 4,878,845 50.57%Population in renter-occupied housing units 24,991 63.94% 4,768,079 49.43%

Average household size of owner-occupied unitsAverage household size of renter-occupied units

Occupancy/VacancyTotal housing units 9,791 100.00% 3,445,076 100.00%

Occupied housing units 9,091 92.85% 3,241,204 94.08%

Vacant housing units 700 7.15% 203,872 5.92%

WATTS LA COUNTY

Housing units with a mortgage 87.70% 76.90%

Housing units without a mortgage 12.30% 23.10%

A ordabilityOwner Costs as a Percentage of Income

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%

Rent Costs as a Percentage of Income

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%

Mortgage Status of Owner Occupied Units

WATTS LOS ANGELES COUNTY

5.15 3.16

3.93 2.81

HOUSING

WATTS LA COUNTY

Housing Bubble BustForeclosure Rate, 2007-2008 !!"#$% &"$#%

High Cost Loan Rate, 2007-2008 $!"'(% )("$)%

Housing Characteristics, QualityBuilding Type, Size1-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%

10 to 19 units 2.87% 7.80%

20 or more units 15.92% 18.10%

Mobile home 0.48% 1.60%

Boat, RV, van, etc. 0.00% 0.10%

Year BuiltBuilt 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%

HOUSING

WATTS LA COUNTY

ValueLess 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%

Occupants Per Room 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%

Year Householder Moved In 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%

Public Housing Inspection Scores

Development ScoreImperial Courts 80

Jordan Downs 73

Nickerson Gardens 90 Average Score, Los Angeles County: 80

NOTES ON DATAThis 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

PopulationAgeGenderHispanic or Latino and RaceHispanic or LatinoHouseholdsTenureOccupancy/Vacancy

LanguagePlace of BirthDate of EntrySchool EnrollmentEducation AttainmentGrandparentsVeteran StatusIncomeBene tsOccupationOccupation by IndustryAvailability of Vehicle, HouseholdCommute to Work, IndividualsMortgage Status of Owner Occupied UnitsOwner Costs as a Percentage of IncomeRenter Costs as a Percentage of IncomeBuilding Type, SizeYear BuiltValueQuality IndicatorsOccupants Per RoomYear Householder Moved In

Housing Bubble BustPublic Housing Inspection Scores

http://fact nder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/searchresults.xhtml?refresh=t

http://fact nder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/searchresults.xhtml?refresh=t

Decennial Census, 2010

American Community Survey, 5-year estimate, 2007-2011

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/NSP.htmlNeighborhood Stabilization Program data, 2007-2008 (18 month-long period)

Public Housing Inspection Scores, 2001-2009