39,041
Population
Sunny Days: 263
80100 Affordability
95100 Schools
95100 Diversity
65100 Safety
Living in Culver City, California
Screenland
Culver City Aerial, Credit: halbergman
Downtown Culver City, Credit: ThisUglyBeautifulCity.com
Downtown Culver City bike, walk, and bus lanes, Credit: ThisUglyBeautifulCity.com
The Culver Studios
LookyLOO Review of Culver City
L.A.’s Small-Town Center with a Creative Pulse
You’re just minutes from Hollywood and the Westside—but Culver City feels like its own place. There’s a distinct sense of community rooted in decades of history (hello, Sony Studios and MGM). The city center—“Downtown Culver”—is surprisingly walkable, with breweries, coffee shops, independent boutiques, and a weekend farmer’s market. You can grab a kombucha, catch a local indie film, and hit the theater—all on foot.
But you’re also smack in the middle of a metro area. Traffic is dense (I‑405, for real), and parking in the downtown core can be a puzzle. Yet people accept it because the city delivers: great schools, a small-town vibe, and a creative energy that parts of L.A. envy. The city recently launched a transit-oriented plan, including a future Expo Line extension—that's big news if you want to use transit rather than your car.
Lifestyle in Culver City
Here, families, creatives, and tech workers co-exist. Weekends involve farmers markets, food from Michelin-adjacent restaurants or taco trucks, outdoor concerts on the plaza, and strolls around tidy residential blocks. You’ve got local craft breweries, a growing arts district, and dog parks tucked into quiet side streets.
For culture lovers, Sony Pictures Studios occasionally offers public tours, and the Culver City Downtown district hosts food and art festivals. Plus, you’re just a short drive from the beach, Dodger Stadium, Griffith Park, and makerspaces abound if you're into crafts and creativity.
Yes, it’s growing and prices reflect that, but the city has kept its heart.
Schools in Culver City
Culver City Unified School District is rated A on Niche and hosts about 6,700 students K–12, with standout schools including:
-El Marino Language School (Spanish/Japanese immersion K–5, Blue-Ribbon rated)
-Linwood E. Howe Elementary, Farragut Elementary, and El Rincon Elementary: are all zone-based, and receive A ratings on niche.com.
-Culver City Middle School (grades 6–8)is the "A-" rated middle school option.
-Culver City High School (grades 9–12) is the "A" rated high school locals are zoned for.
If you want immersion for younger kids, El Marino Language School is a major draw in the area. Very hard to go wrong with any school choice in Culver City.
Why You Should Move Here Now
Culver City strikes a rare balance, big city access and creative energy with a community-core feel and highly rated schools. Homes here move fast (around 1 month on market; competition is strong), but the upside is huge: centrally located, walkable, often on tree-lined streets with a front porch, downtown buzz, and room to breathe.
Reviews of Culver City from Locals
Is Culver City a good place to move to?
Hello all, I’ve been looking around cities to move to further my career in tech and I was curious how Culver City was in terms of cost of living, crime rate etc, and it looks like a perfect place for a male in their late 20s, which just trying to save money. I’ve been eyeing some job offers here which is why I’m so curious.
Anonymous
6mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉
Culver City is a good starter spot for someone in your industry at your age and moving here for the first time. It’s not so far west that you can’t access central/east LA reasonably quickly but still close enough to the west side that you can go to the beach/Santa Monica if that’s your thing. Lots of good restaurants/bars in the area as well as some nice smaller walks/hikes (Culver City Stairs/Baldwin Hills outlook). If you’re near the Metro that’s also a bonus.
The downside is that because of all of those things it’s in demand and more expensive. As some people have mentioned Palms is a slightly cheaper option that’s still very close by. I also recommend Mar Vista/Del Rey but they’re not as walkable.
Two questions for you are 1) where are you moving from 2) do you have a job lined up, and if so where is it as that would be a big factor in my decision making if I were in your shoes
For more reviews of what living in Culver City is like from locals check out: The Reviews
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Living in Culver City
Neighborhoods in Culver City
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Washington Culver
Upscale Families & Professionals
The Vibe:
Washington Culver feels like the sweet spot of Culver City: established, elegant, and quietly vibrant. You’ll find Craftsman bungalows, Spanish-style homes, and tasteful new builds nestled along tree-lined streets. There's a real sense of maturity—like the neighborhood has “arrived”—but it's never stuffy. With easy walking access to downtown, farmers’ markets, and transit, families and professionals cherish the balance of suburban calm and urban convenience.
Zoned Schools:
-Culver City Unified School District
-Elementary: El Marino Elementary or El Rincon
-Middle School: Culver City Middle School
-High School: Culver City High School
Median Home Price: ~$1.7 M
Similar Neighborhoods:
-Blanco/Culver Crest (Culver): More spacious lots, suburban feel with easy access to downtown.
-Cheviot Hills (L.A.): Equally leafy, family-focused, and slightly less dense.
-Park West/Downtown Santa Monica: Walkable with a cohesive community feel.