The 15 Safest Neighborhoods In Los Angeles: 2022's Ultimate List

Like most major cities in the United States, Los Angeles, California has experienced its fair share of declining home sales and a flailing economy. However, with nearly 4 million residents in the city and over 13 million in the Los Angeles metropolitan area as of 2020, it has significantly bounced back, becoming one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities. Los Angeles is much more than what meets the eye and is perceived on the news.

Whether you’re relocating by yourself or uprooting your entire family to the city, safety is likely one of your top priorities. The Los Angeles metropolitan area consists of 88 cities, with approximately 140 unincorporated areas. With numbers like that, how do you choose where to settle down?

Based on statistics, Marina Del Ray, Bel Air, Westwood, Portar Ranch, and Brentwood are the safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, California. These neighborhoods rank highest when it comes to safety and livability, with between 87-94% higher safety ratings than all of Los Angeles. Other safe neighborhoods in Los Angeles include Tujunga, Shadow Hills, and Playa Del Ray.

Although Los Angeles is relatively dangerous, it is also known as a safe and clean vacation destination. In fact, the city hosts over 35 million tourists every year. While the city’s high crime rates may alarm you, in comparison to other major cities in the United States, Los Angeles has the “largest decline in crime of any major American city” – according to the FBI’s crime stats.

Los Angeles is the fifth safest large city in the nation. The crime rates are lower here than in New Orleans, Los Vegas, and San Francisco. Just like any big city, there are areas of Los Angeles to avoid whether you are a resident or just visiting. Some of these include Skid Row, the Fashion District, Watts, Boyle Heights, and certain parts of downtown.

This upmarket waterside enclave is home to Venice’s creative communities and tech companies. It’s one of the safest and quietest areas to live in Los Angeles.

Young professionals appreciate the laid-back atmosphere and low-key nightlife. The beachfront promenades and sidewalks are immaculately maintained, and the beach community is equally so.

Marina Del Ray ranks 69% better in livability than other areas in LA. This neighborhood is also 94% safer than other nearby neighborhoods. According to statistics, the median purchase price of homes in the area is $495,900, with the average rent being $2,575.

Bel Air was founded by Alphonzo Bell back in 1923 after he got rich from striking oil on his farm in Santa Fe Springs. The community is located on the Westside of the city in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. Bel Air, along with Beverly Hills and Holmby Hills, forms the Platinum Triangle of neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

The neighborhood is notoriously upscale, home to many celebrities entertainment executives, and populated with expensive cars and large mansions. There aren’t any official apartments in the area; instead, it consists of only single-family homes.

Bel Air has one of the highest median incomes in the city and is not incredibly diverse. While there aren’t many shopping or dining options within the neighborhood, it isn’t far from others that do.

Bel Air is 75 percent more livable than nearby Los Angeles neighborhoods. In addition, this neighborhood is 90% safer than the rest of LA. According to figures, the median purchase price of a property in the area is $1,853,384, with an average rent of $2,025.

Located in the northern central portion of Los Angeles’ Westside region, Westwood is a safe, tight-knit neighborhood with a large student population. It also has a large number of young professionals and graduates due to the fact that the community is home to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Although the community is dominated by the UCLA campus and its 40,000+ UCLA students, the rest of the neighborhood consists of a blend of high-rise apartments, single-family homes, smaller apartments, and office buildings. Westwood Village borders the UCLA campus on the south side and is a major destination for dining, shopping, movie theaters, and other entertainment in the area.

In terms of livability, Westwood exceeds other LA neighborhoods by 75 percent. This neighborhood is 89% safer than other LA neighborhoods. According to statistics, the median purchase price of a home in the neighborhood is $854,491, and the average rent is $1,832.

Portar Ranch is a small suburban Los Angeles neighborhood in the foothills of the Santa Susana Mountains, situated in the northwest region of the San Fernando Valley. This area is also famous for the movie E.T., as it was featured in several of the park and neighborhood scenes. More recently, Portar Ranch has become infamous because of a massive natural gas leak that occurred and chased families out of the area for several months.

This community is predominately residential, consisting of planned developments. The streets are wide, quiet, well-maintained, and feature large homes. Portar Ranch only has two commercial roads that bisect the town, where you’ll find shopping plazas with a variety of grocery stores, casual dining, and big-box retailers.

Portar Ranch has a 77% livability advantage over other Los Angeles neighborhoods. This neighborhood is 87 percent safer than similar areas in LA. According to statistics, the median price of a home in the district is $681,550, with an average rent of $2,763.

Situated in the Westside of Los Angeles, Brentwood is infamous for being the location of the stabbing deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman involved in the O.J. Simpson murder case. Aside from this crime, the area has a relatively low crime rate and is one of the safest neighborhoods in the city.

The community is a quiet, mostly residential area that consists of a healthy mix of affordable apartment living and conventional-looking homes. Brentwood is not very diverse, with an 85% White population and Asians coming in second at a very distant 7%. It does, however, contain a variety of shops and restaurants along its main road, San Vicente Boulevard.

The Brentwood Country Mart is a unique collection of fantastic food, charming boutiques, and independent bookstores. Like Westwood, this area is home to a large concentration of young students, along with wealthy families and high-profile residents, due to its close proximity to UCLA.

Brentwood has a 64 percent livability advantage over other LA neighborhoods. This neighborhood is 87 percent safer than similar areas in Los Angeles. According to statistics, the median price of a home in the community is $1,628,579, with an average rent of $1,923.

Tujunga is located in the San Fernando Valley region in Los Angeles, neighboring the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. This community is approximately 22 miles from the city center.

While Tujunga was once a separate settlement, it is now linked to Sunland through their shared branch library, chamber of commerce, police station, City Council district, high school, and neighborhood council.

It is a semi-rural neighborhood whose claim to fame is being the location of where Steven Spielberg filmed the forest scenes from E.T. Sunland-Tujunga is home to the top-rated Angeles National Golf Club, which offers a breathtaking view of the mountains.

Tujunga ranks 52% better in livability than other areas in Los Angeles. This neighborhood is also 86% safer than other nearby neighborhoods. According to statistics, the median purchase price of homes in the area is $398,393, with the average rent being $1,229.

Located in the Verdugo Mountains and northeastern section of the San Fernando Valley, Shadow Hills is roughly 19 miles outside of Los Angeles. It is sparsely populated with a mere 3,577 residents. The area consists of primarily large properties and is a popular place for equestrians who enjoy miles of trails for their horses.

Shadow Hills is a relatively quiet community with very few shops and restaurants. However, Burbank is not far away and is considered a dining and shopping hub. While you can expect a lot of land to come with your home, properties tend to be expensive, and renters don’t have much to choose from in Shadow Hills.

Shadow Hills ranks 51% better in livability than other areas in LA. This neighborhood is also 80% safer than other Los Angeles neighborhoods. According to statistics, the median purchase price of homes in the area is $429,300, with the average rent being $1,557.

Playa del Rey (Spanish for “King’s beach”) is a beachside neighborhood located on the Westside of Los Angeles. Situated just south of the marina, Playa del Rey is primarily residential, with some shopping and dining offered along its main thoroughfare.

This area is a mix of large single-family homes, affluent beach pads on the sand, and large apartment complexes when it comes to housing. This area is great for retirees, families, and professionals. The only downside to Playa del Rey is that residents have to deal with the nearby Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) noise.

Playa del Rey rounds out our list at number ten for the safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Its’ violent crime rate per 100K people is 170, and property crime for the area comes in at 1,746 for 2020.

Cibolo is 82 percent more livable than nearby Los Angeles neighborhoods. In addition, this neighborhood is 80% safer than the rest of the city. According to figures, the median purchase price of a property in the area is $873,850, with an average rent of $2,098.

Mar Vista is another Los Angeles community with a relatively low crime rate. It is located on the Westside of Los Angeles, roughly 12 miles from the city center. The high-quality international schools, numerous parks, and public libraries make this neighborhood the ideal choice for young families migrating to the city.

It is a quiet neighborhood compared to the trendy neighboring Venice community. Mar Vista consists of mostly single-family homes, a few smaller apartment buildings, and restaurants and shops scattered along the area’s main thoroughfare, Venice Boulevard. As the prices in Venice climb, people are flocking to Mar Vista for comparatively lower-priced homes and more bang for their buck.

Mar Vista ranks number six on our list of the safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. The violent crime rate per 100K people sits at 208, and the property crime is 1,542 for 2020.

Mar Vista exceeds other LA neighborhoods by 71 percent in terms of livability. This neighborhood is 80 percent safer than others in Los Angeles. According to data, the median purchase price of a home in the area is $797,200, and the average rent is $1,576.

As it’s known, WeHo is a luxurious neighborhood sandwiched between Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Diversity is welcomed in the local community, which is a melting pot of cultures. You’ll immediately find the most exclusive shopping, dining, and nightclub streets.

On Melrose Avenue, all the way to the Sunset Strip, flagship stores coexist with celebrity chef-run restaurants. Above all, this is a fantastic location for creative professionals, thanks to its dynamic nightlife scene. When friendly singles are out and about at night, it’s easy for them to feel comfortable and accepted here.

West Hollywood outperforms other LA neighborhoods in terms of livability by 33 percent. In comparison to other LA neighborhoods, this one is 69 percent safer. According to figures, the median purchase price of a property in the area is $642,200, and the average rent is $1,446.

This peaceful residential neighborhood is also the city’s tech powerhouse. Here are offices for startups and Internet giants like Facebook, Google, and YouTube. Professionals and families will find it to be a safe and convenient area to live.

The crime rate in this area is low, and the cost of living is considerably lower. The area’s coastal location is a key lure for rentals. Above all, there is seaside entertainment for people of all ages here. Those who enjoy being outside will instantly feel at ease, with everything from park movies to summer concerts by the sea.

Playa Vista has a 58% livability advantage over other LA neighborhoods. This neighborhood is 69 percent safer than nearby neighborhoods. According to statistics, the median price of a home in the area is $655,300, with an average rent of $1,535.

Arleta is in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles and contains a high percentage of Latino residents, along with people born outside of the U.S. This area offers a small-town ambiance and reasonable living. During the postwar boom in the 1950’s many sturdy, affordable homes were built that still exist today.

Residents of Arleta have easy access to the 118, 405, and 5 freeways, making the area a convenient and inexpensive home base for commuters. While the neighborhood itself lacks green space, several nearby recreation facilities provide opportunities for outdoor activities.

This neighborhood was also the fictional home for the McFly family in the Back to the Future movie series. Arleta is the eighth safest neighborhood in Los Angeles, with a violent crime rate per 100K coming in at 386 and property crime per capita at 1,464 for 2020.

Arleta exceeds other Los Angeles neighborhoods by 6 percent in terms of livability. This neighborhood is 65 percent safer than others in Los Angeles. According to data, the median purchase price of a home in the area is $321,512, and the average rent is $1,237.

Adjacent to Burbank and Pasadena, Glendale lies in the Verdugo Hills. It is situated about 10 miles north of downtown Los Angeles and has a population of nearly 200,000. The city is home to the highest concentrations of Armenians outside of Armenia.

Glendale’s commercial area consists of various businesses, including healthcare, aerospace, and entertainment (The Walt Disney Company, Dreamworks), to name a few. The city is also home to fantastic shopping and dining experiences such as the Americana at the Brand and the Glendale Galleria.

Residents of Glendale enjoy plenty of biking, hiking, and general outdoor opportunities in the neighboring Verdugo Mountains and Griffith Park. Glendale is the third safest neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. The violent crime rate sits at 299, while the property crime per capita is 1,005 for 2020.

Glendale outperforms other LA neighborhoods in terms of livability by 57 percent. Compared to other Los Angeles neighborhoods, this one is 60 percent safer. According to figures, the median purchase price of a property in the area is $639,700, and the average rent is $1,355.

It costs a lot of money to live in this posh neighborhood. You’ll find a safe and great community if you have the pleasure of living here. It’s suitable for families or busy singles, with outstanding public schools and quick access to LAX.

There are a variety of ocean-related activities available, including body surfing and beach volleyball. The upmarket coastal town provides a haven from city life while remaining connected.

Manhattan Beach has a 95 percent livability advantage over other Los Angeles neighborhoods. This neighborhood is 45 percent safer than similar areas in LA. According to statistics, the median price of a home in the community is $1,537,200, with an average rent of $2,232.

Beverly Hills is a glittering suburban enclave in a picture-perfect location, and it is one of L.A.’s most well-known communities. This upscale and safe neighborhood also boasts excellent schools.

Along with lesser-known local attractions such as the public library and urban parks, popular with families. Even though the area is a popular tourist destination, the apartments provide privacy.

Beverly Hills exceeds other Los Angeles neighborhoods by 82 percent in livability. This neighborhood is 20 percent safer than others in LA. According to data, the median purchase price of a home in the area is $1,900,500, and the average rent is $1,988.