For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Westmont as a census-designated place (CDP).

[6] It adjoins the Vermont Vista neighborhood of the city of Los Angeles.

Tobar noted that Westmont's unemployment rate was at the time "a staggering 23.6%, the highest in Los Angeles County.

"[7] Five years later, the strip of Vermont Avenue which is shared between Westmont and Vermont Vista was called "death alley" by the newspaper because during the past seven years sixty people had been killed by violence on that two-mile stretch.

It remained at the highest rate of killings of any neighborhood in Los Angeles County.

[8] The 2014 article stated that "The area was long been controlled by a gang named the Underground Crips, whose members would, in more violent days, walk across Normandie Avenue to shoot at rivals.

"[9] According to the Los Angeles Times, fewer than six percent of residents held bachelor's degrees in 2000.

The neighborhood is fraught with gang and police-related violence, as well as structural racism and entrenched poverty.

The racial makeup of Westmont was 16,262 (51.1%) African American, 5,037 (15.8%) white (including 1.0% non-Hispanic white),[30] 188 (0.6%) Native American, 126 (0.4%) Asian, 31 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 9,180 (28.8%) from other races, and 1,029 (3.2%) from two or more races.

[33] In the California State Legislature, Westmont is in the 30th Senate District, represented by Democrat Bob Archuleta, and in the 62nd Assembly District, represented by Democrat Jose Solache.

[35] Law enforcement is provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.