Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw
Why two numbers? Long-term tenants (often in rent-stabilized units) pay less than today's asking prices. Budget from the asking rent, not the resident median.
Rent control: City of Los Angeleshas a Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO). Most buildings first occupied before October 1978 limit annual increases for sitting tenants; newer buildings at least 15 years old fall under California's statewide cap (AB 1482). Check a specific address with the LA Housing Department's ZIMAS tool before signing.
General information, not legal advice.
How Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw scores for you
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Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw is a working neighborhood on LA's South Side, centered around two major transit hubs. The Expo/Crenshaw and Martin Luther King Jr stations bring Metro's E and K lines directly into the area, making it one of the few South Los Angeles neighborhoods with serious rail access. The district sits at a crossroads of commercial activity, with Crenshaw Boulevard as its spine and Exposition Boulevard cutting through, anchoring both foot traffic and vehicle movement.
Day-to-day, the area feels car-dependent despite the transit options. Walkability ranks middle-of-the-road (48th of 114 LA neighborhoods), so you can handle some errands on foot around major intersections, but a car is practical for most trips. Tree cover is minimal and concrete dominates, which affects how the neighborhood feels in summer heat.
Living here
The commercial corridors are active and diverse. Within a short walk you'll find about 3 restaurants, 2 coffee spots, and 1-2 grocery stores. Gyms and parks are less dense (about 1 each nearby), but they exist. Norman O. Houston Park, Ingold Park, and Syd Kronenthal Park offer green space when you need it, though the overall canopy is limited at 4.4 percent.
Traffic is a real factor here, ranking above-average (37th of 114 neighborhoods in terms of congestion exposure), and air quality for particulate matter sits at the 38th percentile, below the state median. If you're sensitive to either, this neighborhood will demand compromises. The Metro access partly offsets the car need, but it doesn't eliminate it.
Who it's for
This neighborhood works best for renters who prioritize transit access and don't mind moderate walkability tradeoffs. If you commute via Metro's E or K lines, the direct station proximity is a huge advantage. It's also suitable for people comfortable with an urban, working-class character and willing to accept above-average traffic and lower air quality in exchange for affordability relative to other rail-served areas and direct downtown/Culver City connections.
Environment & livability
Air quality: below the California median for diesel PM exposure.
Air quality here is better than average for the state. Worth noting if you have respiratory sensitivities.
Traffic exposure: above-average traffic corridor exposure.
Higher traffic proximity correlates with elevated noise, diesel emissions, and reduced pedestrian comfort on nearby streets.
Tree cover: very limited tree cover, predominantly concrete.
Low canopy areas tend to run hotter and feel more exposed. Research links tree cover to lower ambient temperatures and improved pedestrian comfort.
Walkability: walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
A mixed walkability area. Good for quick trips on foot, but some destinations will require driving or transit.
Transit: minimal transit access, car strongly recommended.
Very infrequent or no meaningful transit nearby. Car dependency is high in this area.
Environmental data from CalEnviroScreen 4.0 and the EPA Smart Location Database. Informational only, not professional advice for a housing decision.
Metro rail
6 stations inside Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw, none further out worth noting.
Who lives in Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw
Population
15,882
Renters
67%
of households rent
Median age
40
Median income
$71k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw
7 public schools sit inside this area · 7 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin Hills Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 41% | 37% |
| Coliseum Street Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 29% | 24% |
| Hillcrest Drive Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 23% | 22% |
| New Los Angeles Charter ElementaryCharter Elementary | K-5 | 40% | 33% |
| Windsor Hills Math Science Elementary | K-5 | 25% | 20% |
| Stella Middle Charter AcademyCharter Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 5-8 | 40% | 19% |
| Susan Miller Dorsey Senior High High School | 9-12 | 28% | 8% |
Source: California Dept. of Education (directory) and CAASPP Smarter Balanced, 2025. We publish these figures as the state reports them and show the same table for every neighborhood. Saktoo does not rate schools, and school data is never part of a neighborhood match score. Attendance boundaries change — confirm the assigned school with the district before relying on it.
Around Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw
Ralphs · Superior Grocers · Whole Foods Market
Alchemist Coffee Project The Cumulus · Blackwelder · Highly Likely · House Coffee Co.
Carl's Jr. · Del Taco · Egg Tuck · Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken
Ingold Park · Norman O. Houston Park · Syd Kronenthal Park
Gym Tonic
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Similar neighborhoods
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Next to Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw
What the census says about Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 36 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 73%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1957
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 10%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 9%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 92%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 40%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 2 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 5,187
- total housing units
Averaged across 9 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw in the regional index
How Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Low rent and clean air together
Ranks #30 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where rent goes furthest
Ranks #52 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Cheap rent without needing a car
Ranks #57 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw
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Frequently asked questions
What does rent actually cost here?+
New leases average about $2,584 per month as of May 2026, up 0.3% year-over-year. That's roughly $570 above the LA median. One-bedrooms run about $1,414 and two-bedrooms about $1,638 for current residents, but those figures include long-term and rent-stabilized tenants; budget the asking rent if you're moving in today.
Is this neighborhood walkable?+
It's walkable for some errands but you'll want a car for most trips. You can reach restaurants, cafes, and groceries within a short walk of major intersections, but the area ranks 48th of 114 LA neighborhoods in walkability, so it's not pedestrian-oriented throughout.
How is transit here?+
It's one of the best-served neighborhoods on the South Side. The Expo/Crenshaw, Farmdale, Expo/La Brea, La Cienega/Jefferson, and Martin Luther King Jr stations are all within the neighborhood on Metro's E and K lines, giving direct access to downtown, Culver City, and regional connections. Beyond Metro, transit options thin out, so a car is still practical.
Should I be concerned about air quality or traffic?+
Traffic is above average (37th of 114 neighborhoods in exposure), and particulate matter air quality ranks at the 38th percentile, below the California median. If you're sensitive to either, nearby neighborhoods like Leimert Park, Gramercy Park, and Hyde Park offer cleaner air, though they're also less affordable.
Is Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw walkable?+
Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw ranks #77 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
What is the average rent in Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw?+
A new lease in Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw typically asks around $2,584 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $1,609 (Census ACS), which includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants, so expect asking prices closer to the first number.
Does Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw have Metro rail access?+
Yes. Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw has 6 Metro rail stations within its boundary (Expo / Crenshaw E-Line, Farmdale, Expo / La Brea / Ethel Bradley), served by the Metro E Line, Metro K Line.
How is the air quality in Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw?+
Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw has below the California median for diesel PM exposure, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 38 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw are Leimert Park, Chesterfield Square, Gramercy Park and Manchester Square.