Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Boyle Heights
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Boyle Heights
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 Boyle Heights scores for you
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Boyle Heights is a historic Chicano and Mexican American neighborhood east of the Los Angeles River, known for cultural landmarks like Mariachi Plaza and the vibrant annual Día de los Muertos celebrations. The area has a strong neighborhood identity rooted in decades of community life, with local restaurants, shops, and gathering spaces that reflect the area's character.
The neighborhood is moderately walkable for errands, ranking 51st of 114 LA neighborhoods. You can handle some shopping on foot, with about four restaurants and one grocery store within a short walk, but a car will be useful for many trips. Transit access is better than most of LA, with four Metro E Line stations (Indiana, Soto, Mariachi Plaza/Boyle Heights, and Pico/Aliso) plus connections to Union Station nearby.
Living here
Day-to-day life in Boyle Heights centers on local commerce and community spaces. The neighborhood has reasonable foot traffic for dining and small errands, though the limited tree canopy (1.6 percent) means hot summers on the street. Air quality ranks among the worst in LA (110th of 114), with high diesel PM exposure from traffic corridors, which also contributes to the area ranking 91st for traffic congestion. You will notice these factors during daily outdoor activities.
Rents here are among LA's most affordable, with new leases averaging about $2,357 per month, ranking 6th lowest in the city. Current residents pay a median of $1,309, but that reflects long-term and rent-stabilized tenants; budget from the asking rent for a new lease. Studios run around $1,163 and one-bedrooms about $1,185 according to census data on existing residents. Transit makes car-free living possible for some errands, though a car remains useful for flexibility.
Who it's for
Boyle Heights suits renters prioritizing affordability and cultural neighborhood character over amenities or environmental conditions. It works well for people with steady jobs near Metro E Line corridors or Union Station, who can manage higher air pollution and traffic exposure, and who value walkable local dining and shopping. It is less ideal for those sensitive to air quality or those who need comprehensive gym and park access nearby.
Environment & livability
Air quality: high diesel PM exposure, top quartile in California.
Linked to elevated respiratory and cardiovascular risk in long-term residents. See the air quality flag for more detail.
Traffic exposure: high traffic corridor exposure.
This area is near major traffic corridors, linked to higher noise levels, diesel PM, and reduced street-level comfort.
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
4 stations inside Boyle Heights, 2 more nearby.
Who lives in Boyle Heights
Population
76,437
Renters
74%
of households rent
Median age
32
Median income
$58k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Boyle Heights
25 public schools sit inside this area · 23 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed Street Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 37% | 33% |
| Bridge Street Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 26% | 26% |
| Christopher Dena Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 34% | 34% |
| Euclid Avenue Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 45% | 43% |
| First Street Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 52% | 43% |
| Garza (Carmen Lomas) Primary Center Elementary | K-2 | — | — |
| KIPP Endeavor College Preparatory CharterCharter Elementary | K-8 | 38% | 26% |
| KIPP Promesa PrepCharter Elementary | K-4 | 55% | 63% |
| Lorena Street Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 27% | 27% |
| Malabar Street Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 37% | 27% |
| Murchison Street Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 46% | 36% |
| Puente CharterCharter Elementary | K-5 | 39% | 31% |
| Second Street Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 39% | 39% |
| Sheridan Street Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 37% | 27% |
| Soto Street Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 51% | 46% |
| Sunrise Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 34% | 32% |
| Utah Street Elementary Elementary | K-8 | 34% | 25% |
| Hollenbeck Middle Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 41% | 38% |
| KIPP Los Angeles College PreparatoryCharter Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 5-8 | 62% | 49% |
| Robert Louis Stevenson College and Career Preparatory Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 35% | 17% |
| Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez High High School | 9-12 | 44% | 29% |
| Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High High School | 9-12 | 75% | 44% |
| Math, Science, & Technology Magnet Academy at Roosevelt High High School | 9-12 | 82% | 45% |
| Oscar De La Hoya Animo Charter HighCharter High School | 9-12 | 49% | 15% |
| East Los Angeles Occupational Adult | No Data | — | — |
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 Boyle Heights
Food 4 Less · Northgate Market · Peñaloza Market · Smart & Final
Starbucks
Al & Bea's Mexican Food · Bahia Ensenada · Birrieria Nochistlan Zac · Brooklyn Ave Pizza Co
Aliso Triangle · Boyle Heights Recreation Center · Boyle Heights Sports Center Park · Hazard Park
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Next to Boyle Heights
What the census says about Boyle Heights
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Boyle Heights; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 32 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 81%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1950
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 26%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 4%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 86%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 39%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 2 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 8,930
- total housing units
Averaged across 20 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Boyle Heights in the regional index
How Boyle Heights places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Where rent goes furthest
Ranks #10 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Cheap rent without needing a car
Ranks #13 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- The areas with no affordable escape from pollution
Ranks #26 of 262 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Boyle Heights
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Frequently asked questions
What is rent in Boyle Heights?+
New leases average about $2,357 per month as of May 2026, ranking 6th most affordable in LA. Studios average $1,163 and one-bedrooms around $1,185 based on current residents, though these lower figures reflect long-term tenants. Rents have declined about 1.8 percent year-over-year.
How is the public transit here?+
Boyle Heights has good transit access for LA, with four Metro E Line stations within the neighborhood (Indiana, Soto, Mariachi Plaza/Boyle Heights, and Pico/Aliso), plus Union Station 0.6 km away serving the B, D, and A Lines. You can reach downtown and other parts of the city without a car, though the neighborhood itself is easier to navigate with one.
Is it walkable for errands?+
The neighborhood is walkable for some errands, ranking 51st of 114 LA neighborhoods. You will find restaurants, groceries, and coffee shops within short walks, but you will need a car or transit for many destinations. Tree cover is minimal (1.6 percent), so walking in summer is hot.
What are the air quality and environmental conditions?+
Air quality ranks among the poorest in LA (110th of 114 neighborhoods) due to diesel PM exposure from traffic corridors. Traffic is also heavy (91st for congestion). These are significant tradeoffs if you are sensitive to pollution or spend a lot of time outdoors.
Is Boyle Heights walkable?+
Boyle Heights ranks #81 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
What is the average rent in Boyle Heights?+
A new lease in Boyle Heights typically asks around $2,357 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $1,309 (Census ACS), which includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants, so expect asking prices closer to the first number.
Does Boyle Heights have Metro rail access?+
Yes. Boyle Heights has 4 Metro rail stations within its boundary (Indiana, Soto, Mariachi Plaza / Boyle Heights), served by the Metro A Line, Metro B Line, Metro D Line, Metro E Line.
How is the air quality in Boyle Heights?+
Boyle Heights has high diesel PM exposure, top quartile in California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 93 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Boyle Heights?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Boyle Heights are East Los Angeles, Lynwood, Wilmington and Lennox.