Average IQ in Los Angeles (United States): Estimates & Key Factors
Estimated Avg IQ
102
IQ Range
99–105
Region
Americas
Los Angeles is America's entertainment capital and second-largest city, home to UCLA, USC, and Caltech — one of the world's greatest scientific research institutions. The city's diverse economy spans entertainment, aerospace (SpaceX, Boeing), technology, fashion, and international trade. Caltech's extraordinary concentration of scientific talent — arguably the highest-ranked university in the world by research output per faculty member — significantly elevates the city's intellectual profile despite being located in Pasadena rather than LA proper. SpaceX, aerospace companies, and biotech firms further concentrate STEM professionals.
Important note: City-level IQ estimates are especially approximate. They reflect selection effects — cities attract educated, ambitious migrants — as well as local education quality, economic conditions, and available data. These figures do not reflect the intelligence or potential of any individual resident. For context on what IQ scores measure, see our guide to IQ.
Key Factors Shaping IQ in Los Angeles
- •Caltech (California Institute of Technology) ranks among the world's top research universities
- •SpaceX and major aerospace companies concentrate elite engineering talent
- •UCLA and USC are major research universities with large graduate programs
- •Diverse economy spanning entertainment, technology, and aerospace requiring varied cognitive skills
To understand what IQ scores measure and how they're calculated, see our guide on what IQ is. For a breakdown of what different score levels mean, visit our IQ score ranges page.
Los Angeles vs. United States National Average
Cities typically score above national averages due to selection effects — highly educated and ambitious individuals tend to migrate toward economic and cultural capitals. Los Angeles's estimated average IQ of 102 reflects this urban premium above United States's national average.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average IQ in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles's estimated average IQ is around 102, above the US national average. Despite its entertainment industry reputation, LA has a significant STEM sector anchored by Caltech, SpaceX, aerospace companies, and a large biotech cluster.
How does Caltech affect Los Angeles's cognitive profile?
Caltech, located in Pasadena in the greater LA area, has perhaps the most extreme positive selection effect of any university in the world — with the lowest acceptance rate and highest research productivity per student of any institution. Its faculty and graduate students significantly elevate the region's cognitive profile.
How does LA compare to San Francisco?
San Francisco (107) scores higher than LA (102) primarily due to the Bay Area's extraordinary concentration of technology companies and the unique cognitive selection of Silicon Valley. LA's more diverse economic base, while intellectually rich, creates less extreme selection for any single type of cognitive ability.
Explore More Cities
See all cities on our Average IQ by City page, or take our free IQ test to see how you compare.
MyIQScores Editorial Team
Researchers in cognitive psychology, psychometrics & educational science
Last updated
May 10, 2026
All content on MyIQScores is reviewed for scientific accuracy against peer-reviewed research in cognitive psychology and psychometrics. Our editorial team cross-references each article with published literature before publication and updates pages whenever new research warrants a revision.