Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Carthay
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Carthay
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 Carthay scores for you
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Carthay is a compact half-square-mile neighborhood in Central Los Angeles anchored by its historic Carthay Circle and Carthay Square districts. Three Los Angeles Historic Preservation Overlay Zones protect the area's character, giving it a defined identity distinct from the sprawl around it. The neighborhood sits at the intersection of Wilshire and Fairfax, placing it on a major thoroughfare with real foot traffic and commercial energy.
What draws renters here is the walk ability. Carthay ranks 2nd out of 114 LA neighborhoods for walkability, meaning most daily errands are genuinely doable on foot. You can handle groceries, coffee, and meals without planning a car trip. The trade-off is intentional: this is not a quiet enclave but a working, mixed-use district where you live alongside restaurants, shops, and the rhythm of the street.
Living here
Day-to-day life in Carthay centers on the blocks around Wilshire and Fairfax. You have about three restaurants within a short walk, and at least one park nearby, so there are places to go without leaving the neighborhood. Foot traffic is constant, especially along Wilshire itself. The neighborhood has very limited tree cover (about 4.4 percent), so summers feel hot and exposed, and the air quality sits below the California median for diesel PM exposure due to the traffic corridor. You will notice the cars.
Transit access is minimal, though Wilshire / Fairfax Station on the Metro D Line sits right at the neighborhood boundary, and Wilshire / La Cienega Station is just two blocks away. For most daily needs, your feet work better than the bus. A car is strongly recommended if you commute elsewhere or want flexibility beyond the immediate blocks. Density is relatively low for a walkable urban neighborhood, so it does not feel cramped, but it does mean fewer amenities packed tight.
Who it's for
Carthay suits renters who value being able to walk to restaurants and errands and who work nearby or are comfortable with the Metro D Line for their commute. It's a neighborhood for people who appreciate historic character and a defined neighborhood center without needing abundant gyms, specialty grocery stores, or a deep selection of cafes. Budget around $3,296 per month for a new lease, which ranks in the higher half of LA neighborhoods (79th out of 114). If you are sensitive to traffic noise or air quality, or if you need robust transit options, look elsewhere.
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: most daily errands can be done on foot.
High intersection density and destination access. The kind of area where a car is optional for daily life.
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
1 station inside Carthay, 1 more nearby.
Who lives in Carthay
Population
3,324
Renters
68%
of households rent
Median age
42
Median income
$127k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Carthay
1 public school sit inside this area · 1 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carthay Elementary Of Environmental Studies Magnet Elementary | K-5 | 57% | 50% |
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 Carthay
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What the census says about Carthay
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Carthay; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 28 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 61%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1945
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 4%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 13%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 99%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 28%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 2 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 504
- total housing units
Averaged across 1 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Finding a place in Carthay
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Frequently asked questions
Is Carthay really walkable?+
Yes. It ranks 2nd out of 114 LA neighborhoods for walkability, meaning most daily errands can be done on foot. You will find restaurants, parks, and shops within a short walk around Wilshire and Fairfax.
What is transit like?+
Transit is minimal (ranked 39th of 114), but Wilshire / Fairfax Station on the Metro D Line is right at the neighborhood boundary, with Wilshire / La Cienega Station just two blocks away. A car is strongly recommended for anything beyond the immediate area.
How much should I budget for rent?+
New leases average $3,296 per month as of May 2026. One-bedrooms start around $2,127, while three-bedrooms run about $3,501. This places Carthay in the higher half of LA neighborhoods for rent.
Is the air quality good?+
No. Carthay sits on a major traffic corridor (Wilshire) and ranks below the California median for diesel PM exposure. The neighborhood also has minimal tree cover (4.4 percent), which compounds the heat and air quality challenges.
What is the neighborhood character like?+
Carthay is defined by its historic Carthay Circle and Carthay Square districts, protected by three Historic Preservation Overlay Zones. It's a mixed-use, walkable district with restaurants and street life, not a quiet residential pocket.
Is Carthay walkable?+
Carthay ranks #2 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, most daily errands can be done on foot.
What is the average rent in Carthay?+
A new lease in Carthay typically asks around $3,296 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $2,214 (Census ACS), which includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants, so expect asking prices closer to the first number.
Does Carthay have Metro rail access?+
Yes. Carthay has 1 Metro rail station within its boundary (Wilshire / Fairfax), served by the Metro D Line.
How is the air quality in Carthay?+
Carthay has below the California median for diesel PM exposure, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 44 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Carthay?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Carthay are Covina, Garden Grove, Beverlywood and North Fountain Valley.