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Whittier College

Whittier College

Suburban Neighborhood in Whittier, California

Los Angeles County 90601, 90602, 91745

$945,411 Average Value
$497 Average Price per Sq Ft
4 Homes For Sale

Architecturally diverse hillside homes with a view of downtown LA

Whittier College is a hillside neighborhood sold off one parcel at a time by its namesake college, which led to the development of a diverse inventory of early-to-mid 20th-century character homes. “On a clear day, you can get views of downtown LA and Catalina Island from properties on the hillside,” says e-Homes Realtor Jordan Partida, who grew up in the area. The community is quiet and architecturally diverse, offering a little slice of high-level American history. “There’s a rich history,” says Brick & Co. broker/owner Amy Brick, who has been selling since 2002. “We were founded in the late 1880s by the Quakers, and Richard Nixon is from our town.”

Whittier has a friendly suburban vibe with urban access.
Whittier has a friendly suburban vibe with urban access.
Whittier is named after the poet John Greenleaf Whittier.
Whittier is named after the poet John Greenleaf Whittier.
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Whittier College sold off land to developers one piece at a time

Whittier College is a mix of single-family homes and apartments, with a small inventory of condos and townhouses. Because of the college, the neighborhood is about 50% renters, but Partida says that doesn’t deter homebuyers because the school is not too large, and apartments tend to be concentrated around the main streets. “This whole area used to be owned by the college, and they sold it off bit by bit, so you get a ton of different home styles here,” Partida says. “There are Craftsmans, Colonial and Spanish Revivals, Cape Cods, midcentury and then some custom homes. It’s definitely not cookie-cutter.” Nearest the college, the residential tree-lined streets are mostly flat with gentle slopes and sidewalks before they wind into the hills. Homes around Whittier College are priced between $650,000 and $1.7 million. Condos and townhouses are priced between $600,000 and $700,000.

A student walking through a campus building at Whittier College, Whittier
A student walking through a campus building at Whittier College, Whittier
Sculptures at the Whittier College Campus.
Sculptures at the Whittier College Campus.
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Whittier High School has a four-year STEAM program

Whittier City Elementary School District is graded C-plus by Niche, while Whittier Union High School District is graded A. The Lou Henry Hoover School of Fine Arts elementary and Dexter Middle are graded B-minus. Graded B-plus by Niche, Whittier High School’s Cardinal Academy of Technology is a four-year STEAM program that provides students with a rigorous, hands-on education and extracurricular activities like robotic competitions, field trips and social events.

Whittier High School.
Whittier High School.
Statue of John Greenleaf Whittier.
Statue of John Greenleaf Whittier.
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Whittier College is the alma mater of Richard M. Nixon

Whittier College is a private, four-year liberal arts college named after Quaker poet and abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier. Secular since the 1940s, the school has around 1,100 students and a student-faculty ratio of 8-to-1. Whittier College is known for one very famous alum — President Richard M. Nixon, who opted for his hometown school over the Ivy League before moving on to Duke Law School. Nixon graduated from Whittier College in 1934.

A student walking down a winding path at Whittier College, Whittier.
A student walking down a winding path at Whittier College, Whittier.
Whittier is home to several historic landmarks.
Whittier is home to several historic landmarks.
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Brush fire risk and a 15-minute commute to the 605

The Whittier College area lacks direct highway access. It’s a mile-and-a-half drive to Whittier Boulevard, also known as state Route 72, and Interstate 605 is another mile-and-a-half east. The drive to the 605 can add 10 to 25 minutes to a commute, depending on the time of day. For those who do commute, downtown Los Angeles is about 20 miles away via state Route 60. "Most people commute to downtown LA or Orange County, which can honestly take 30 minutes or an hour-and-a-half," Partida says. Foothills Transit operates bus routes along Philadelphia Street and Painter Avenue. The closest airport is 20 miles away in Long Beach, but for broader travel options, it’s about 25 miles to Los Angeles International, a sneaky long drive that can take up to two hours during unpredictable rush hours. Just 2 miles away, PIH Health Whittier Hospital is among the closest medical facilities. Because the Whittier College neighborhood butts up against the open space of the Puente Hills, there is a wildfire threat on the community’s northeastern portion. Fires are not uncommon in Whittier, and they can spread rapidly with all the dry brush in the hills. Fire insurance is becoming a bigger financial burden for homebuyers in California as insurance giants continue to exit the state’s volatile market. It's also worth noting that this area is in proximity to a landfill, though it doesn't deter some buyers.

Worsham Canyon has wilderness trails to hike.
Worsham Canyon has wilderness trails to hike.
Football Stadium at Whittier College.
Football Stadium at Whittier College.
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Picturesque waterfall at Penn Park

The closest community park is Penn Park, which is in neighboring Mar Vista Heights. It’s a picturesque piece of land with picnic spots and a children’s play area. The park has artificial water features like a babbling stream and waterfall. Penn Park is beautiful and well-maintained, making it an excellent backdrop for photos for all occasions. Central Park in Uptown is known as a gathering place for Whittier residents. The park hosts a summer concert series called Whittier Concerts in the Park. North of the neighborhood is Turnbull Canyon, a nature preserve with a 2.5-mile trail that winds through the Puente Hills. It’s considered a moderately challenging route that is not well suited for beginners. The trail is popular, and parking is limited at the trailhead, which is something to keep in mind on the weekends.

A walking path at Penn Park in Whittier
A walking path at Penn Park in Whittier
A bridge crossing the ponds at Penn Park in Whittier
A bridge crossing the ponds at Penn Park in Whittier
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Shopping and Dining is done in nearby Uptown

Tucked away near the Puente Hills, the community around Whittier College is almost entirely residential, but there are dining destinations in neighboring Uptown. “King and Queen Cantina is what I would describe as a lively locale. It’s an open-air Mexican restaurant, so you get a little bit indoor and a little bit outdoor, and it’s dog-friendly,” Partida says. A few blocks north, California Grill & Bar is a breakfast-through-dinner venue that serves a mean pastrami sandwich. “They serve classic American food and host a lot of live music events,” Partida says. Some big-box shopping sites like Home Depot are nearby, and Ralphs and Stater Bros. Markets are among the options for stocking up on groceries.

Mr Temp Cantina is a popular place for lunch and happy hour in Whittier College, Whittier
Mr Temp Cantina is a popular place for lunch and happy hour in Whittier College, Whittier
A popular place to browse for antique clocks inside King Richard's Antique Center in Whittier.
A popular place to browse for antique clocks inside King Richard's Antique Center in Whittier.
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Amber Steinmetz-Cole
Written By
Amber Steinmetz-Cole
Photography Contributed By
Justin Bradley
Austin Lewis
Video By
Austin Lewis

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to George Guerrero, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Long Beach (Daugherty Field)

35 min drive

Bus

Painter Avenue And Penn Street

Bus

Painter Avenue And Philadelphia Street

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Whittier College US
Homicide 3 4
Sexual Assault 3 4
Assault with Weapon 4 4
Robbery 4 4
Burglary 4 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 4 4
Larceny 3 4
Crime Score 4 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$777,520
Median Single Family Price
$1,000,000
Median Townhouse Price
$935,000
Median 2 Bedroom Price
$628,500
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$497
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Last 12 months Home Sales
40
Months of Supply
1.20
Median List Price
$810,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
0%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
449
Median Year Built
1953
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,915
On par with the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,569
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,308
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
7,840

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to George Guerrero, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
2,747
Median Age
39
Population Density
5 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
17.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$73,318
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$115,303

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
94.9%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
35%
Advanced Degrees
11.9%
% Population in Labor Force
62.8%
On par with the national average
65.1%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
13''
Average Winter Low Temperature
50°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
0''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

7 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

5 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Whittier College
George Guerrero
Advantage Real Estate
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