The Best Neighborhoods In Los Angeles To Buy A Home
Los Angeles county is far larger than most people realize. Though many people think of Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles when they picture L.A., the city of Los Angeles is actually only a small fraction of the larger county. That said, there really is something for everyone in Los Angeles, even if it is more on the outskirts or suburbs of the town. While this coastal county is undoubtedly a more expensive place to live, there are affordable neighborhoods that boast a wide array of benefits.
On top of that, those with a greater range of financial means will find several different neighborhoods that are not only beautiful but have everything from amazing schools to stellar nightlife. One of the best things about living in Los Angeles is that there is a niche area for every kind of person. Whether you're looking for a quiet neighborhood in the valley or a breathtaking mansion near the ocean in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles has plenty of options for every kind of resident. Without further ado, here are the best neighborhoods in Los Angeles to buy a house!
Pasadena
Located just 10 miles northeast of Downtown Los Angeles, the city of Pasadena offers residents the perfect combination of urban proximity and city life, with suburban comfort and a sense of community. Known as the home of the world-famous Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena also boasts a host of historic buildings, countless delicious locally owned restaurants, theaters, museums, outdoor hiking trails, and sunny skies 300 days out of the year. The city of Pasadena is divided into four neighborhoods — Old Pasadena, Civic Center, Playhouse Village, and South Lake avenue — each with its own sense of community and style. These smaller, diverse neighborhoods allow residents to build an even stronger sense of community, giving each area a small town charm despite its metropolitan location.
According to Los Angeles Magazine, Pasadena also boasts three high schools in the top 10 Los Angeles County high schools list, making Pasadena an ideal spot to settle down, invest in a home, and raise a family. When it comes to the cost of living, the median sale price of a home in Pasadena is about $1.1 million, and while that is still a pretty high price for a home, the benefits of the neighborhood are immense, especially when it comes to raising a family.
Marina del Rey
Located just south of the famous Los Angeles neighborhood of Venice, California, Marina del Rey offers the same coastal beach lifestyle without the noise of Venice's hustle and bustle. Marina del Rey boasts Los Angeles's biggest marina and port — docks lined with boats, restaurants, beaches, and more lie at the center of the neighborhood. Residents and tourists alike can spend the day in the marina's calm waters on a stand-up paddleboard or kayak, or even support a local business and rent a small yacht to explore the marina and the Pacific for the day.
The ocean breeze and the proximity to other bustling West Los Angeles neighborhoods make Marina del Rey an idyllic place to own a home. Free community events, including farmers' markets, outdoor moving screenings in the marina, and live music, allow Marina del Rey residents to feel a true sense of community within the context of the massive greater Los Angeles area. According to Public School Review, the top-ranked public school in Marina Del Rey is Westside Global Awareness Magnet, and there are also a decent number of renowned private schools that are within a reasonable distance of the town.
Brentwood
Also located on the Westside of Los Angeles lies the glamorous neighborhood of Brentwood, California. Sandwiched between Santa Monica, Westwood, and West L.A., Brentwood is home to some of the nicest homes in all of Los Angeles. Well-kept, tree-lined streets host impressively sized homes with plentiful front and backyard space, ample parking, and luxurious landscaping. According to Discover Los Angeles, Brentwood boasts one of the lowest population densities in all of L.A., making it an ideal neighborhood for those looking to raise a family, a couple of pets, or just an opportunity for some hard-to-come-by acreage and yard space while still living in the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles.
Brentwood also offers an array of high-end, high-quality restaurants, boutique shops, gyms, and exercise opportunities, making it an extremely desirable neighborhood for those seeking a stereotypical luxurious Los Angeles experience. Although with a median home cost of over $2.5 million, owning a home in Brentwood is out of budget for most, but it is an incredible place to settle down and raise a family for those with a more flexible budget (via Realtor).
Woodland Hills
Located in the San Fernando Valley (often just referred to as "the valley" by locals), the neighborhood of Woodland Hills offers residents a suburban feel with ultimate urban proximity. Unlike much of the city of Los Angeles, most residents of Woodland Hills own homes rather than rent, creating a more suburban, community-based style of living. Despite its slight removal from Central and Downtown Los Angeles, Woodland Hills' location (nestled between Calabasas, Tarzana, and Topanga and just a short drive down the 405 freeway to urban life) makes Woodland Hills the perfect spot for those looking to live just on the edge of suburbia and metropolitan lifestyles.
According to Niche, Woodland Hills is home to some of Los Angeles's highest-rated public schools, making it a perfect neighborhood to purchase a home for those looking to leave behind downtown life and start a family. Woodland Hills also offers expansive hiking trails, high-end shopping and fashion, and its own lively bar and restaurant scene all along Ventura Boulevard. When it comes to purchasing a house, the median sale price for Woodland Hills is around $1.3 million, and since it is such a coveted area, the competition can get pretty intense (via Redfin).
Mar Vista
Nestled between the popular Westside neighborhoods of Santa Monica, Venice, and Culver City, lies the less talked about but just as desirable neighborhood of Mar Vista, California. Mar Vista is a smaller but still densely populated neighborhood. According to Los Angeles Times, the neighborhood expands only 2.9 miles but still boasts over 37,000 residents. This higher population density and prime West Los Angeles location allow Mar Vista to still be a lively, bustling part of the city despite its smaller boundaries.
Between its excellent location, low crime rates, good public schools, nightlife, diversity, and sense of community, Mar Vista has been ranked by Niche as one of the top neighborhoods in Los Angeles, coming in at number 15 out of over 100 Los Angeles neighborhoods. Considering Mar Vista's wealth of public parks, locally owned restaurants, shops, and businesses, it is quickly making a name for itself. Owning a home in Mar Vista is sure to be a worthwhile investment for those looking to settle down on the westside.
La Cañada Flintridge
Located at the base of the Verdugo Mountains on the far Eastside of Los Angeles lies the peaceful community of La Cañada Flintridge. La Cañada is home to just over 20,000 people and is known for its emphasis on community, being child-centered, and having an extremely safe status. According to U.S. News, the public La Cañada Unified School District ranks 11th in Los Angeles and 29th in the state, making the neighborhood the perfect place to purchase a home for those looking to ensure a safe, positive schooling experience for their children.
La Cañada also offers a wealth of outdoor space for all residents to enjoy including over 24 miles of both city and country trails, an 18-hole golf course, and a collection of public parks. While the median home price of around $1.2 million makes living in La Cañada a hefty investment, it is well worth the money for those with a more flexible budget (via Osmon Moving and Storage).
Studio City
Located in the heart of Central Los Angeles, Studio City is home to some of the biggest movers and shakers of Los Angeles. Often regarded as the "Jewel of the Valley," Studio City serves as the intermediary area between the more residential, suburban neighborhoods of the Valley and some of Los Angeles's most vibrant, well-known districts, including North Hollywood, the Hollywood Hills, and Universal City, as per Discover Los Angeles. This prime location between suburbia and ultimate Los Angeles city life allows residents to enjoy the best of both worlds. For example, the lower population density plus easy access to major city attractions and public transportation are just a few of the many perks of owning a Studio City home.
Since the median home cost in Studio City falls around $1.5 million, it's not attainable for everyone (via Redfin). But between the incredible location, the ability to fully enjoy both suburban valley life and downtown city life, and the wealth of public schools and incredible properties, owning a home in Studio City is well worth the price tag for those with a more flexible budget (via Movoto Real Estate).
Burbank
Are you looking to purchase a home on the east side of Los Angeles? Burbank, California, offers incredible homes, prime locations, and slight removal from the surrounding areas with an incredibly high population density. For example, Burbank offers wider and larger yards, several parks in close proximity, stunning and lush greenery in the neighborhood landscape, as well as several other factors. The neighborhood also boasts a wealth of local restaurants, bars, shops, venues, and more, making it a vibrant and flourishing area 365 days a year.
Although Burbank is home to many of Los Angeles's biggest production studios, movie and television stars, theme parks, and other incredible attractions, the neighborhood also offers ample-sized homes, public parks, and even sizable yard space in many homes on the market. For those looking to settle down and purchase a home for their families or families to be, Burbank proves to be an appealing option. It has been rated number 14 out of 228 cities with the best public schools across the United States, according to Niche. Whether you are looking to settle down and raise a family, or you are involved in the film industry and need to be located close to Warner Brothers Studios, living in Burbank suits a wide variety of needs.
The Pacific Palisades
With some of the best views and most impressive homes across all of Los Angeles, the westside neighborhood of the Pacific Palisades is a dream location for many homeowners. Located between well-known beach cities Malibu and Santa Monica, the Pacific Palisades offers the same sweeping coastal views, easy beach access, and fresh sea breeze as these other coveted Los Angeles neighborhoods but with noticeably more privacy than its more popular counterparts. The Palisades is known to be extremely family-friendly. Lush green yards and streets lined with palm trees span almost every block, making the entire neighborhood look like something out of an idyllic California movie.
But luxuries like privacy, ocean views, ample space, and impressively rated public schools come a high price. According to Redfin, the median home cost in the Palisades comes out to around $4.37 million. While this does make the Palisades one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area, for those with a more flexible budget, owning a home here is worth every penny. Plus, compared to Malibu's star-studded and exclusive beach community, there are some major benefits to choosing Pacific Palisades. Though both are incredibly expensive, they are equally as beautiful and charming. Still, Pacific Palisades is much less isolated and offers easier access to the city, making it the better option for those who commute for work or spend a lot of time in different parts of L.A.
Valley Village
While many of the ideal neighborhoods to own a home on this list have been geared toward those looking for a more laid-back, family-oriented vibe, Valley Village is the perfect place to own a home for those looking for a funky, young, vibrant place to call home. Located right between North Hollywood and Studio City on the east side of Los Angeles, Valley Village boasts a wealth of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, and more communal spaces often frequented by young creative professionals.
Despite being largely populated with a younger demographic, Valley Village also boasts an impressive, highly ranked school district for those looking to have children, increasing the value of homes across the neighborhood. According to Realtor, the median home value in Valley Village lies around $1.45 million but has homes in the $600,000 to $800,000 range. While this is much higher than the national average, it is also markedly more reasonable than many other Los Angeles neighborhoods. If you want to live near Studio City and reap the many benefits of living so close to Ventura Boulevard, Valley Village is a solid spot. Plus, since it is rare to buy a home for less than $1 million in the more coveted areas of Los Angeles, Valley Village is one of the few places that still keep that dream alive for those seeking to purchase a home.
Highland Park
Located just a couple of miles northeast of Downtown Los Angeles, Highland Park is often referred to as one of the most up-and-coming neighborhoods in all of L.A. According to Good Migrations, Highland Park has seen a massive influx of trendy bars, high-end restaurants, boutique shopping, and vibey coffee shops, which have drawn young Los Angeles professionals towards the community. Despite its rapidly changing demographic, Highland Park still boasts a sense of diversity and community in the homes and businesses, thanks to its many lifelong intergenerational residents.
Although its popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, the cost of real estate and home ownership is markedly lower in Highland Park than in most desirable, trendy Los Angeles neighborhoods. According to Redfin, the median home cost in Highland Park is around $1.2 million, and although it is a hefty investment, it still proves to be notably less expensive than other similarly popular neighborhoods. Since this is considered a very up-and-coming area, buying a home here can be considered a major investment in the future. With more and more restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues popping up across the district, the future seems limitless for Highland Park.
Santa Monica
Known for its sprawling beaches, lively downtown district, bustling pier, unmatched temperate weather, and safe neighborhoods, Santa Monica is undoubtedly one of the most desirable locations to own a home in Los Angeles. Although Santa Monica — especially the pier and the downtown Third Street Promenade — becomes a bustling tourist destination during the summer months, it also offers a rich sense of community and gorgeous homes for locals and permanent residents. Its prime location in central west Los Angeles offers residents a brief reprise from the infamous L.A. traffic while still being close to other desirable neighborhoods including Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and more.
According to Niche, although Santa Monica is located in Los Angeles county, the westside neighborhood boasts its own nationally recognized, A+ rated school district, making Santa Monica an ideal place to own a home and raise a family. While the proximity to the beach, the community feel, the big beautiful homes, and the impressive school district make Santa Monica an incredible place to live, it also does raise the median home cost for those looking to purchase. However, Santa Monica is the perfect place to buy a family home for those with a more flexible budget.