10 Safest Neighborhoods in Los Angeles
- Bel Air
- Sherman Oaks
- Studio City
- Los Feliz
- Playa Vista
- Encino
- Brentwood
- Porter Ranch
- Silver Lake
- Playa Del Rey
1. Bel Air
The safest neighborhood in Los Angeles is Bel Air. It’s also one of Los Angeles’ most recognizable neighborhoods. According to FBI crime statistics released in 2021, Bel Air’s overall crime rate is 65% lower than other neighborhoods in the city. With a population of 10,715, residents have a minimal chance of being the victim of any crime.
However, the safety in Bel Air comes with a heavy price tag. As of 2022, the median home price in Bel Air is $4.5 million. Luckily, there are several more affordable neighborhoods that made it onto this list.
2. Sherman Oaks
Sherman Oaks is also one of the safest places to live in Los Angeles. The neighborhood has a population of around 70,000. As of 2022, the crime rate in Sherman Oaks is 53% lower than the national average and 58% lower than the California average. However, Sherman Oaks is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in LA. In 2022, the median home price was around 1.7 million dollars.
3. Studio City
Located in the Southeast Fernando Valley, Studio City may be known for having dozens of famous personalities who once lived in this neighborhood due to its proximity to Hollywood. Studio City constantly ranks as one of the safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Studio City has a population of 40,449 and is safer than the majority of other areas in LA.
In particular, violent crime isn’t common in this part of the city, so residents and visitors will feel extremely safe in Studio City.
4. Los Feliz
Los Feliz is a safe, affordable neighborhood in Los Angeles. The area is very tranquil, and crimes are extremely rare in the area, with it being 61% safer than other neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Encino is often described as having an urban/suburban feel.
Having close proximity to Hollywood and downtown, Encino is great for singles, young professionals, and families. The median home price in Los Feliz is $740,684, with median rent being $1,407, making it one of the more affordable neighborhoods on this list. Having proximity to nightlife, bars, great restaurants, and hiking, Los Feliz combines safety and affordability.
5. Playa Vista
Playa Vista is also one of the safest places to live in Los Angeles. The neighborhood has a population of 13,697 and is safer than 60% of Los Angeles Neighborhoods. According to FBI statistics from 2021, Playa Vista has a total of 1,890 incidents per 100k people, making it much safer than the US national average and 27% safer than the California average. In addition, Playa Vista is close to the beach yet still offers an affordable lifestyle. With a median home price of $655,300 and a median rent price of $1,535, Playa Vista is ideal for students, single, young professionals, and families.
6. Encino
Another one of the safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles is Encino. The area has one of the lowest crime rates in the city. Encino is known as being a good place for singles, young professionals, families, and retirees. Located in the San Fernando Valley, Encino is known for both safety and affordability. Median home prices in this part of the city are $753,866, with a median rent of $1,475 monthly. Compare that to an average home price in Los Angeles being nearly a million and rent surpassing $2,700 monthly, and Encino is a bargain area to live in!
7. Brentwood
Brentwood is another one of the safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Located in Western LA, Brentwood has a population of around 31,000. It’s also a very safe neighborhood, with 37% less crime than the city average. Isolated incidents of property crime exist, while violent crimes such as murder are almost non-existent. Ironically, Brentwood was where the famous OJ Simpson murder case happened in 1994.
Just like Bel Air, living in Brentwood isn’t cheap. As of 2022, the median home price in this neighborhood is over 2.2 million.
8. Porter Ranch
Porter Ranch is located in the San Fernando Valley and has a population of 30,571. It’s also one of the safest places to live in Los Angeles. The median home price in Porter Ranch is $681,550, while the median rent is $2,763. Porter Ranch is known for being home to many families and retirees. Porter Ranch has a more suburban feel and is surrounded by many state parks and green spaces. Besides being one of the safest LA neighborhoods, it’s also one of the greenest places in the city, making it great for outdoor lovers.
9. Silver Lake
Silver Lake is also one of the safest areas in Los Angeles. This neighborhood has a population of 30,972 and a very low crime rate, making it one of the safest areas in Los Angeles. Located between Echo Park and Los Feliz, Silver Lake is considered a great place for young single people. Silver Lake has been greatly gentrified in recent years, and housing prices reflect that, with median house prices being around 1.73 million in 2022.
10. Playa Del Rey
Another one of the safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles is Playa Del Rey. With a population of 12,900, Playa Del Ray has a crime rate of 1,686 per 100,000 people making it 28% lower than the national average and 35% lower than the California average. Often described as a quiet neighborhood with close beach access, Playa Del Rey is great for young families.
Safest Neighborhoods in Los Angeles Bottom Line
Generally, the safest areas in Los Angeles (and its surrounding areas) will be on the city’s West Side. Factors such as crime per capita are the greatest deciding factor. Even though many of these neighborhoods are safe to live in, being that it is Los Angeles, these are also some of the most expensive places to live in the country. Median home prices often far exceed the million-dollar mark.
Finding the right balance of safety and affordability in Los Angeles can be difficult, but as seen on this list, there are still some decent options. While many of these neighborhoods have lower crime, issues such as homelessness and property crime do affect certain areas. While safety and affordability are becoming more scarce in Los Angeles, there are still pockets of affordability.