El Monte vs West Covina: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of El Monte, CA and West Covina, CA, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricEl Monte, CAWest Covina, CA
Population108,682108,173
Median household income$59,929$96,219
Median home value$597,200$664,500
Median rent (/mo)$1,605$2,054

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing El Monte, CA and West Covina, CA comes down to what you value most. El Monte has the lower median home value, and El Monte has the lower median rent.

West Covina has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in El Monte or West Covina?
By median home value, El Monte is the cheaper of the two ($597,200 vs $664,500). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, El Monte or West Covina?
Median household income is $59,929 in El Monte versus $96,219 in West Covina, per the US Census Bureau.

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