What is it about Los Angeles, California that makes 3.8 million people want to live there?
Well besides the obvious: 284 days of sunshine, great beaches, and the hopes of spotting a famous person to name a few, we discovered that people are starting to flock to Los Angeles because The City of Angels has some of the best neighborhoods in America. And lucky for you, HomeSnacks has created a guide to those great neighborhoods and the top ten best neighborhoods in Los Angeles for 2024 are listed below.
But before you scroll down, you should probably know a little bit about how we ranked these LA gems. In order to determine the best, we had to give each neighborhood an actual concrete score: we call this a neighborhood’s overall ‘Snackability’. To get this score, we looked at the latest data on income levels, unemployment rates, crime, and home prices for 83 Los Angeles neighborhoods with over 0 residents. Incidentally, this is our tenth time ranking Los Angeles’ best neighborhoods, so trust us when we say that these are the best of the best.
And folks, there’s a lot of fun to be had in Los Angeles’ best neighborhoods. For example, you can walk Universal Studios on a daily basis if you choose to live in Century City, you can visit the Brentwood Farmers’ Market every Saturday if you choose LA’s Westside, and you can go for a dip in the ocean if you choose Pacific Palisades
Want to know more? We recommend that you grab yourself a fresh avocado and kale smoothie, head to a shady park in Bel Air, and read on as we divulge Los Angeles’ best neighborhoods.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The biggest cities in most states do tend to have the most problems; and while Los Angeles does have its fair share of problems and some pretty dangerous neighborhoods, it does have some of the best, most unique, neighborhoods to call home.
So, what’s the best neighborhood in Los Angeles for 2024? That would be Playa Vista.
To see how your favorite LA neighborhoods compared, take a look at the list below; and if you don’t see it there, head to the bottom.
For more California reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In California
- Cheapest Places To Live In California
- Most Dangerous Cities In California
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Los Angeles
Population: 8,485
Median Home Value: $1,225,967 (12th best)
Median Income: $151,877 (Fifth best)
More on Playa Vista: Data | Real Estate
Population: 36,353
Median Home Value: $1,249,943 (Tenth best)
Median Income: $102,786 (19th best)
More on Mar Vista: Data | Real Estate
If you want to live close to the Los Angeles Airport and close to Venice Beach, but not on the beach, then Los Angeles’ second for 2024 neighborhood should be right up your alley.
But, folks, the Mar Vista neighborhood comes with a price. Homes in this neighborhood will run you around $1,249,943 and the median income is around $102,786. Fortunately, however, it’s cheaper to rent in Mar Vista than buy. With rental rates currently topping $2,129, this gives you an opportunity to check out the neighborhood at discount before making any major, life changing, financial decisions.
Population: 37,859
Median Home Value: $987,476 (20th best)
Median Income: $83,954 (36th best)
More on Palms: Data | Real Estate
The Museum of Jurassic Technology and the Woodbine Park are two of the reasons why Palms is the third best neighborhood in Los Angeles, but they’re not the only reasons.
Made up of Craftsman and Spanish Colonial style homes, the Palms neighborhood is another neighborhood that made our list with only 37,859 residents. It is also LA’s 15th least dangerous.
Most people get to Palms via the 405 and the 10 freeways, but the coolest feature in this neighborhood is that you can get to it by LA’s only rail line, the Metro Expo Line.
Population: 6,984
Median Home Value: $1,880,401 (Second best)
Median Income: $198,758 (Second best)
More on Bel Air: Data | Real Estate
You, too, can live in Los Angeles’ fourth best neighborhood if you can afford to buy a $1,880,401 home.
But don’t let that price tag scare you. Bel Air, or Bel Air Estates as the locals call it, does have its many perks. It’s located in the Westside area of LA in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains; and, people, it’s gated. Probably why it’s LA’s second safest neighborhood.
Bel Air is another lightly populated neighborhood that made our list reporting only 6,984 residents. So, if you’re into living next to older, well-educated neighbors who make a lot of money, definitely give Bel Air a second look.
Population: 21,864
Median Home Value: $2,000,001 (best)
Median Income: $205,646 (best)
More on Pacific Palisades: Data | Real Estate
If you guessed that Los Angeles’ fifth best neighborhood, Pacific Palisades, got its name because it is located on the Pacific coastline, you guessed right.
But I bet you didn’t know that if you want to live in this coveted LA neighborhood, you’re going to have to make the big bucks and you’re going to have to drop those big bucks on a home if you choose to buy or rent. Pacific Palisades is currently the first wealthiest and has the most expensive homes on our list.
So, if you’re looking for a true LA gem, look no further than Pacific Palisades.
Population: 31,709
Median Home Value: $1,392,827 (Sixth best)
Median Income: $163,253 (Fourth best)
More on Brentwood: Data | Real Estate
There are many advantages to living in Los Angeles’ sixth best neighborhood, Brentwood. For one, you have a better chance of having your bike stolen than getting mugged. This neighborhood only had 309 violent crimes recorded at the time of this report, making them the sixth safest on our list.
Secondly, Brentwood scored off the charts on our snackability scale with an emphasis on education and employment, too. So, if you’re looking for a safe place to send your kids to school, walk your dog, and/or go to work, Brentwood delivers.
Population: 18,291
Median Home Value: $1,296,346 (Seventh best)
Median Income: $103,804 (18th best)
More on Pico-Robertson: Data | Real Estate
Population: 57,287
Median Home Value: $1,266,754 (Ninth best)
Median Income: $78,789 (40th best)
More on Westwood: Data | Real Estate
Westwood is the largest neighborhood in terms of population on our list, currently recording 57,287 residents.
The bonus to this neighborhood, it’s super safe. It ranked the fourth safest neighborhood on our list.
The one downfall to this neighborhood, however, is that the unemployment rate is currently above the national average at 4.6 percent. This tells us two things: 1).You should probably have a job in mind before you consider Los Angeles’ eighth best neighborhood; and 2). Local notables like Mila Kunis and Johnny Depp won’t live next to just anyone.
Population: 13,682
Median Home Value: $1,069,617 (15th best)
Median Income: $116,735 (12th best)
More on West Los Angeles: Data | Real Estate
Located on the corner of the 405 and the 10 is the ninth best neighborhood in the City of Angels, West Los Angeles.
This is one of the many neighborhoods on the list that hails from the northwest side of LA. And can we just say, if you like shopping at Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade, you will be super close if West Los Angeles is your jam.
The homes in West Los Angeles are going to run you around $1,069,617, but the neighborhood is super worth it.
Population: 31,016
Median Home Value: $820,187 (27th best)
Median Income: $95,550 (25th best)
More on Eagle Rock: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Los Angeles, CA Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Los Angeles, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 83 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Los Angeles.” We’re lookin’ at you, Playa Vista.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Los Angeles, California has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Los Angeles.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Los Angeles
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Los Angeles where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Los Angeles are Playa Vista, Mar Vista, Palms, Bel Air, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Pico-Robertson, Westwood, West Los Angeles, and Eagle Rock.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Los Angeles aren’t all good. Fashion District takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Los Angeles.
The worst neighborhoods in Los Angeles are Fashion District, Wholesale District-Skid Row, Leiment Park, South Park, and Lincoln Heights.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more California reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Los Angeles For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Playa Vista | 8,485 | $1,225,967 | $151,877 |
| 2 | Mar Vista | 36,353 | $1,249,943 | $102,786 |
| 3 | Palms | 37,859 | $987,476 | $83,954 |
| 4 | Bel Air | 6,984 | $1,880,401 | $198,758 |
| 5 | Pacific Palisades | 21,864 | $2,000,001 | $205,646 |
| 6 | Brentwood | 31,709 | $1,392,827 | $163,253 |
| 7 | Pico-Robertson | 18,291 | $1,296,346 | $103,804 |
| 8 | Westwood | 57,287 | $1,266,754 | $78,789 |
| 9 | West Los Angeles | 13,682 | $1,069,617 | $116,735 |
| 10 | Eagle Rock | 31,016 | $820,187 | $95,550 |
| 11 | Portar Ranch | 22,688 | $681,550 | $122,141 |
| 12 | Century City | 5,810 | $1,267,517 | $111,840 |
| 13 | Sawtelle | 34,435 | $807,986 | $92,728 |
| 14 | Mid Wilshire | 39,181 | $1,204,131 | $99,711 |
| 15 | Beverly Glen | 12,053 | $1,705,700 | $193,885 |
| 16 | Venice | 32,030 | $1,713,615 | $122,750 |
| 17 | Los Feliz | 28,163 | $1,174,050 | $101,089 |
| 18 | Mid City West | 44,687 | $1,457,400 | $98,680 |
| 19 | Arleta | 39,928 | $500,739 | $84,270 |
| 20 | Playa Del Ray | 16,056 | $873,850 | $104,607 |
| 21 | Shadow Hills | 4,677 | $719,933 | $100,458 |
| 22 | Northridge | 82,432 | $622,194 | $94,583 |
| 23 | Mid City | 82,665 | $994,947 | $73,044 |
| 24 | West Hills | 40,760 | $666,650 | $123,412 |
| 25 | Reseda | 70,313 | $528,697 | $74,808 |
| 26 | Granada Hills | 53,139 | $633,692 | $107,829 |
| 27 | Atwater Village | 10,765 | $789,870 | $91,126 |
| 28 | Encino | 51,628 | $881,117 | $117,836 |
| 29 | Silver Lake | 38,829 | $943,164 | $91,137 |
| 30 | Sylmar | 78,715 | $471,372 | $78,184 |
| 31 | Highland Park | 45,611 | $685,910 | $73,793 |
| 32 | North Hills | 59,369 | $515,014 | $72,890 |
| 33 | Mount Washington | 18,109 | $739,788 | $89,732 |
| 34 | Chatsworth | 41,206 | $592,150 | $101,676 |
| 35 | San Pedro | 77,099 | $609,528 | $77,474 |
| 36 | Valley Village | 28,134 | $837,730 | $84,571 |
| 37 | Westchester | 36,173 | $1,001,476 | $129,931 |
| 38 | Studio City | 40,742 | $1,041,634 | $117,445 |
| 39 | Sunland | 16,555 | $551,050 | $91,974 |
| 40 | Tarzana | 39,168 | $696,533 | $89,012 |
| 41 | Mission Hills | 21,378 | $497,623 | $84,609 |
| 42 | Hollywood Hills | 31,163 | $1,232,129 | $113,863 |
| 43 | Lakeview Terrace | 13,477 | $459,025 | $82,779 |
| 44 | Glassell Park | 23,038 | $711,482 | $76,170 |
| 45 | Woodland Hills | 77,392 | $762,283 | $109,058 |
| 46 | Echo Park | 23,799 | $848,314 | $72,527 |
| 47 | Westlake | 98,864 | $755,085 | $46,523 |
| 48 | Pacoima | 71,405 | $431,452 | $62,298 |
| 49 | Winnetka | 50,815 | $542,476 | $75,166 |
| 50 | Jefferson Park | 31,402 | $729,400 | $57,065 |
| 51 | El Sereno | 44,421 | $556,110 | $66,447 |
| 52 | North Hollywood | 71,248 | $623,486 | $57,555 |
| 53 | Toluca Lake | 9,150 | $890,544 | $83,615 |
| 54 | Canoga Park | 55,504 | $444,276 | $65,037 |
| 55 | Van Nuys | 109,844 | $545,731 | $58,231 |
| 56 | Sun Valley | 79,154 | $526,454 | $63,454 |
| 57 | Hollywood | 143,022 | $803,580 | $53,967 |
| 58 | Tujunga | 26,088 | $546,061 | $77,320 |
| 59 | Panorama City | 62,980 | $420,144 | $55,198 |
| 60 | Boyle Heights | 77,778 | $472,252 | $49,528 |
| 61 | West Adams | 25,628 | $609,010 | $52,313 |
| 62 | Montecito Heights | 8,572 | $647,575 | $81,139 |
| 63 | Glendale | 29 | $1,053,600 | $53,438 |
| 64 | Harbor Gateway | 42,327 | $554,804 | $67,380 |
| 65 | Crenshaw | 25,072 | $642,111 | $51,584 |
| 66 | New Downtown | 6,396 | $282,200 | $49,413 |
| 67 | Cypress Park | 10,713 | $578,810 | $58,239 |
| 68 | Harbor City | 22,398 | $456,657 | $63,462 |
| 69 | South Los Angeles | 207,640 | $469,672 | $50,087 |
| 70 | Central City East | 23,663 | $630,142 | $58,266 |
| 71 | Hyde Park | 31,100 | $567,417 | $58,128 |
| 72 | Southeast Los Angeles | 194,788 | $410,964 | $45,171 |
| 73 | Wilmington | 50,695 | $437,323 | $56,607 |
| 74 | Chinatown | 9,144 | $488,417 | $53,225 |
| 75 | Downtown | 45,198 | $704,691 | $50,463 |
| 76 | Civic Center-Little Tokyo | 3,457 | $306,133 | $55,760 |
| 77 | Central City | 57,489 | $440,243 | $43,878 |
| 78 | Watts | 40,431 | $354,525 | $36,669 |
| 79 | Lincoln Heights | 33,525 | $547,919 | $51,775 |
| 80 | South Park | 7,021 | $209,983 | $48,922 |
| 81 | Leiment Park | 10,458 | $460,217 | $51,933 |
| 82 | Wholesale District-Skid Row | 7,245 | $218,186 | $29,771 |
| 83 | Fashion District | 2,466 | $89,350 | $39,866 |
