The 5 safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles (2024)

LA is an exciting but daunting place to live. To help you feel safe in the city, we’ve identified the 5 safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles for peace of mind.

Ellie

6 minute read

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Updated on 29 Aug 2024

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Living

When choosing to live in a major US city like Los Angeles, safety is one of the most important factors to consider if you're trying to find rental homes in Los Angeles. Like any major city, LA has areas that are less safe than others. Even being a bit unsafe, these are often considered LA’s top neighborhoods to live in!

However, if you’re less interested in being in the middle of the LA party, it’s good to familiarize yourself with the safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. In this article, we’ll discuss the 5 safest neighborhoods in LA, focusing on the cost, quality of life, and infrastructure found in each neighborhood.

There’re many safe places to live in LA, whether you’re living alone, with your partner or housemates, or with your family. Some of the safest neighborhoods in LA are:

1. Sherman Oaks
2. Los Feliz
3. Glendale
4. Culver City
5. Mar Vista.

Let’s take a closer look at each neighborhood.

• Neighborhood vibe: Tranquil, great community, lots of amenities
• Average rent: $2,300/month
• Safety: 65% less reported crime than the city average
• Transportation: Sherman Oaks is serviced by 233, 237, 761, CE549, and 155 buses. The Ventura County Line, Coast Starlight, and Pacific Surfliner trains pass close to Sherman Oaks. The 101 Freeway and I-405 Highway are also easy to reach from Sherman Oaks.
• Perfect for: Young adults and families

Sherman Oaks is a classic American suburban neighborhood. It’s one of LA’s safest neighborhoods, has plenty of amenities, and a warm, welcoming community. Locals attest that they feel safe while living in Sherman Oaks. There’s an excellent police presence and response time in this neighborhood.

The average rental price in Sherman Oaks is $2,300. Compared to other Los Angeles neighborhoods, the cost of food and groceries in Sherman Oaks is pretty affordable as the neighborhood doesn’t see a lot of tourism.

Life in Sherman Oaks is quiet and chilled; some might even say it’s boring. But there’re plenty of lovely restaurants and cafes to explore in Sherman Oaks. There’s also plenty of shopping options for a range of budgets. There’re a range of grocery stores to choose from, and despite LA’s reputation for being car-reliant, Sherman Oaks is pretty walkable. One important thing to note about living in Sherman Oaks is that it’s very hot, as it doesn’t receive any shade from the hills. Be sure that you have decent AC if you decide to live in Sherman Oaks!

• Neighborhood vibe: Dog-owner haven, artsy, charming
• Average rent: $2,030/month
• Safety: 20% less reported crime than the city average
• Transportation: Serviced by 180, 182, 217, and DASH buses. The B Metro Rail Line passes through Los Feliz. The Antelope Valley Line, Ventura County Line, and Pacific Surfliner trains also pass close to Los Feliz. The I-5 interstate and 101 freeway are within close reach of Los Feliz.
• Perfect for: Young adults and retired creatives

Los Feliz is an excellent neighborhood to live in for several reasons. Not only is it one of the safest neighborhoods in LA, but it’s also ideally located close to Beverly Hills, so you’ll still be close to the action of LA. Los Feliz has a super artistic vibe and a community of creatives who embrace the neighborhood's culture. Locals agree that Los Feliz is one of the safest neighborhoods in LA, with a close sense of community and collaboration.

Considering its location and popularity, the average rental price of $2,300 per month in Los Feliz is manageable compared to other LA neighborhoods. The cost of groceries and leisure activities in Los Feliz can be high as it’s a little closer to the tourist spots.

Los Feliz is known for its laidback, creative, and artsy vibes. It’s one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Los Angeles, and you’ll have an array of trendy restaurants, cafes, and bars to visit. Los Feliz has plenty of amenities within walking distance, including many grocery stores and pharmacies. There’re a number of theatres and cinemas to pass the time in too.

• Neighborhood vibe: Family friendly, convenient, pricey
• Safety: 40% less reported crime than the city average
• Average rent: $2,900/month
• Transportation: Serviced by 5, 92, and 7 buses. The Antelope Valley Line, Ventura County Line, and Pacific Surfliner trains also pass close to Glendale. The I-5 and I-210 interstates, and the 2 and 134 freeways, are within close reach of Glendale.
• Perfect for: Young adults and families

Neighboring Los Feliz is the neighborhood of Glendale. Glendale is another very scenic, vibrant neighborhood in LA that is super safe to live in. Glendale is an excellent mixture of modern amenities, a suburban community, and a lively social scene. Glendale is located relatively close to the center of Los Angeles, but you can still find a lot of peace and quiet in this neighborhood if that’s what you’re looking for. There’s a decent police presence in this neighborhood with excellent response times, so help will always be nearby when needed.

The average rental price in Glendale is a little higher at $2,900 per month, as this is a pretty upper-class neighborhood. Aside from the higher cost of renting, other essential living expenses are similar in Greendale as in other neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

Glendale is a somewhat walkable neighborhood, especially in the areas with many shopping and dining options. Still, having a car is very useful in Glendale, as it’s a pretty big neighborhood. The northern part of Glendale is quieter and even safer than the south part, which is close to Studio City— a popular party spot in Los Angeles. You’ll enjoy a relaxed, suburban vibe while living in Glendale, making it ideal for families. There’re also plenty of schools in Glendale.

• Neighborhood vibe: Friendly, vibrant, urban and suburban mix
• Safety: 31% less reported crime than the city average
• Average rent: $2,150/month
• Transportation: Culver City has its own bus network and is serviced by the 33 and C1-C7 buses. From Culver City, you can easily reach the I-10 and I-405 interstates.
• Perfect for: Young adults and young families

Culver City is a wonderful mix of city and suburban vibes. Living here, you’ll be close to Venice Beach and Santa Monica, so it’s a very desirable location. Culver City is a very safe neighborhood, considering it’s proximity to the center of Los Angeles. It’s 20 minutes from many major LA points, yet Culver City has a strong sense of community. People who live there are super friendly and social. There’s a visible police presence here, and Culver City emergency response times are excellent.

Culver City isn’t super expensive compared to other LA neighborhoods, but basic living expenses might be a bit pricier here as it borders some famous tourist spots. The average rent in Culver City is manageable at $2,150 per month.

Culver City is certainly walkable, with plenty of grocery stores, restaurants, bars, and cafes in close proximity to one another. There’re plenty of parks in Culver City, and you’ll be pretty close to a number of beaches while living here. Culver City is a great place to live for young families as it’s super safe and has plenty of excellent schools and kid-friendly parks.

• Neighborhood vibe: Quaint, sleepy, well-located
• Safety: 48% less reported crime than the city average
• Average rent: $2,700
• Transportation: The Light Rail passes close to Mar Vista. You can also take the 33, 16, CC2, and CC5 buses in Mar Vista. The 187 freeway, I-10, and I-405 interstates are accessible from Mar Vista.
• Perfect for: Young adults, especially if you work from home

Mar Vista is a surprisingly quiet residential neighborhood bordering Culver City and Venice. Despite its location along Venice Boulevard and close to Santa Monica, this neighborhood is chilled, silent, and safe. It’s well located to move around Los Angeles and perfect if you want to live close to the beach but avoid the tourist traffic of beachside living. Locals in Mar Vista tend to keep to themselves, and there aren’t many community spaces besides the Mar Vista Recreational Centre. If you love your privacy and independence, Mar Vista is for you.

The average rent in Mar Vista is $2,700, which can make the cost of living here pretty high. One potential disadvantage to living here is that there aren’t many amenities on your doorstep, so you’ll probably have to drive for groceries and other essentials. However, this also allows you to find the most affordable options within driving distance, of which there’re plenty.

Mar Vista is not the most walkable neighborhood in Los Angeles, and there’s not much going on in the neighborhood. You’ll likely have to drive a bit to reach some good bars and restaurants. Mar Vista is close to Santa Monica Airport, Venice Beach, Santa Monica, and Marina Del Rey, so even though there’s not much happening in the neighborhood, you’re close to most of the action. In that respect, Mar Vista offers the best of both worlds by giving you a peaceful place to call home that’s also close to the beach and party scenes when you’re feeling sociable.

So there you have it, the safest neighborhoods Los Angeles has to offer. Hopefully, you can find houses for rent in Los Angeles with this guide, but if you’ve taken one look at the average rent and gotten a fright, don’t worry! We also have a guide on the cheapest neighborhoods in Los Angeles to let you live your best life in the City of Angels without breaking the bank.