West Hollywood
LGBTQ+
West Hollywood is one of the most influential cities in the country for its advocacy for LGBTQ+ issues and as a home for the community. More than 40% of the residents identify as LGBTQ+ and the neighborhood is host to big events including WeHo Pride, Lesbian and Queer Women Visibility Week, Bi-Visibility Week and Transgender Awareness Month.
The area is also famous as a historical center for music, entertainment, fashion and culture and is filled with clubs, bars, music venues, comedy joints and pretty much everything else you could want to do in LA. Living here you're in the heart of the action.
- West Hollywood
- Silver Lake
- Venice
- Elysian Park
Silver Lake
DINKs/SINKs
Other than New York, there are probably more "DINKs/SINKs" in Los Angeles than any city in the country (on the planet?). When peeps get tired of whatever crazy neighborhood they first live in Los Angeles and are ready for a bit more chill, but cool vibes they often pick Silver Lake for their next home. Picture people in hip Brooklyn neighborhoods but more sunny.
What's so great about Silver Lake? Well, you have to start with the namesake body of water, Silver Lake Reservoir, where the local hipsters run, walk, roll and bike. When you're not soaking up the sun and water views you'll enjoy insanely good cafes, restaurants and boutique shopping all along Sunset Junction. When you're done grubbing and caffeinating you'll also enjoy a great music scene. The neighborhood has a mix of apartments, condos, rental bungalows and increasingly, young families who don't want to give up a walkable, fun area for the despair of suburbia.
- Silver Lake
- Echo Park
Brentwood
Families
Hard to go wrong picking Brentwood for your family. Another neighborhood on the westside, it sprawls across the hills and is filled with cool Mid-Century Modern ranches. The backyards often have beautiful views of the city. The neighborhood also has some fo the best private schools in the city like Brentwood School and The Archer School for Girls. Finally, and most importantly for some families, the neighborhood has great outdoor play options at Topanga State Park and tons of excellent and eclectic food choices in the neighborhood commercial district.
- Brentwood
- Manhattan Beach/Redondo Beach
- Eagle Rock
- Mar Vista
- Playa Vista
Venice
Artists, Creatives & Beach Lovers
The Vibe:
Venice is unmistakably its own vibe. Perhaps the most important creative playground in the long storied history of the LA area creative neighborhoods. Think street performers, beachfront muscle zones, canal homes, hidden surf breaks, and a buzzing boardwalk filled with taco stalls and vintage shops.
Just inland, you'll find restored Victorians, modern townhomes, and smart infill, all steps from the sand. The area’s energy is casual, electric, and unapologetically eclectic. With coffeeshop mornings, skatepark afternoons, and cocktail evenings.
Zoned Schools:
LAUSD is the school district, and families shoot for magnets or some target the local charters.
Median Home Price: ~$2.4 M
Similar Neighborhoods:
-Mar Vista: More residential but similarly artsy.
-Silver Lake (L.A.): Hipster-chic, with DIY culture and creative energy.
-Ocean Beach (San Diego): Beachside counterculture and bohemian charm.
Mar Vista
Young Families & Creatives
The Vibe:
Mar Vista is that sweet spot where quiet meets cool. Across its bird-named streets and mid-century tracts, you’ll find young families, professors, and creatives loving their homes with yards, biking around for errands, and always with dogs in tow. There's a low-key local vibe with independent coffee shops, casual wine bars, and walkable access to Venice and Culver City.
Zoned Schools:
-LAUSD, Mar Vista is zoned for the Los Angeles Unified School District.
-Elementary: [Mar Vista Elementary(https://marvistaes.lausd.org/)
-K-8: CWC Mar Vista: free, public charter elementary school.
-High School: Venice High School
Median Home Price: ~$1.8M
Similar Areas:
-Culver City’s Sony District: Craftsman homes near creative hubs.
-Glassell Park: Quiet hills with rising creatives and walkability.
-Echo Park (L.A.): Artsy re-awakenings around a lake and nightlife.
El Sereno
Working Families & Artists
The Vibe:
East L.A.'s hill section—slightly off-grid, big yards, Mexican-American roots, artists, musicians, and weekend mural tours. It's got historic homes, new infill, stellar views, and a sense that it's old Los Angeles—furniture workshop, not film festival.
Zoned Schools:
-LAUSD
-Elementary: El Sereno Elementary,
-Middle School: El Sereno Middle & Magnet
-High School: Woodrow Wilson High School
Median Home Price: ~$1M
Similar Neighborhoods:
-Lincoln Heights: Eastside rebirth, low-rise suburb.
-Glassell Park (Lower): Neighborhood on the rise with a hill.
-San Diego’s North Park: Artistic, mixed in more affordable family homes.
Eagle Rock
Families & Academic Types
The Vibe:
Eagle Rock is a Mid-City classic neighborhood. With tree-lined streets, bigger lots, suburban perks, and filled with PHD/Academic culture due to proximity to Caltech/Occidental College. It's a mix of Craftsman, Tudor, and ranch homes, which support family hangouts and sidewalk BBQs. It’s like a quieter Oak Park(Ventura County) with a PCH-class school system, like those found in Malibu or Santa Monica.
Zoned Schools:
-Eagle Rock Elementary & Magnet Center
-Middle/High School: Eagle Rock Junior/High School
Median Home Price: ~$1.3M
Similar Neighborhoods:
-Glendale Chevy Chase: Quiet, mature suburb in-city.
-La Canada-Flintridge: Hillside family-scholars zone.
-Oak Park (Pasadena): Craftsman culture, shaded streets, family focus.
Del Rey
Waterfront Workers & Young Families
The Vibe:
Del Rey is the overlooked beach-adjacent zone—mid-century ranches, canal-front homes, newer infill, and a sense of being on the water near marina life without the Venice pandemonium. It’s chill, quiet, and full of Mariners workers, creatives, and young families who value proximity to Marina del Rey and Playa.
Zoned Schools:
-LAUSD
-Elementary: Del Rey Elementary
-Middle School: Marina Del Rey Middle
-High School: Venice High School
Median Home Price: ~$1.5M
Similar Areas:
-Mar Vista East: Affordable with canal character.
-Bel Air Crest (San Pedro): Small suburb near the waterfront.
-Redondo Beach – North: Quiet coastal families away from tourists.
Los Feliz
Families & Creatives
The Vibe:
Los Feliz is a lush, hillside village with old Hollywood glamour, walkable boutique shopping, and craft‑beer bars. It's filled with Spanish‑Colonial revival homes, retired folks who've owned property for 50+ years, and young families buying into the kooky bookshops and vintage cinemas.
Griffith Park lives on your block, and the walkable core commercial district on Vermont/Los Feliz Blvd supplies you with delicious coffee, croissants, and regular farmer’s fare.
Zoned Schools:
-Elementary: Franklin Avenue Elementary
-Middle School: Thomas Starr King Middle
-High School: John Marshall High
Median Home Price: ~$2.1M
Similar Neighborhoods:
-Silver Lake: Creative-driven, walkable with a hillside vibe.
-Echo Park: Lake + vintage meets artists & families.
-Highland Park: On the upswing, similar in “LA‑value” charm.