Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Fairfax
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Fairfax
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 Fairfax scores for you
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Fairfax is a Central LA neighborhood that ranks 7th out of 114 for walkability, making it one of the more pedestrian-friendly areas in the city. Most of your daily errands, from groceries to coffee, can be done on foot. The neighborhood has solid amenities density (11th out of 114), with about 13 restaurants, 3 coffee shops, 2 grocery stores, and a gym within a short walk of most blocks.
The trade-off is transit and trees. Public rail access is minimal (Metro D Line stations on Wilshire are within reach but the neighborhood ranks 102nd for transit), so a car is strongly recommended for getting around LA. Tree cover is also very limited at just 1.3 percent, leaving the area feeling predominantly concrete. Air quality is below the California median for diesel PM exposure, and traffic congestion ranks above-average.
Living here
Day-to-day living in Fairfax centers on walking to nearby shops, restaurants, and services along the main streets. You'll find everything from Erewhon and Trader Joe's for groceries to neighborhood spots like Chill Since '93 and local gyms. The walkability means you can handle most errands without a car, but you'll still want one for longer trips or commuting across the city, given how weak the transit options are.
The neighborhood feels urban and bustling, but the lack of green space and steady traffic make it noisier and hotter than leafier parts of LA. Expect concrete streetscapes, busy corridors, and a somewhat gritty character. It's a place where you're embedded in the neighborhood itself, not looking out onto parks or quiet tree-lined blocks.
Who it's for
Fairfax works best for renters who value walkability and neighborhood amenities over quiet or green space, and who own a car or are comfortable driving frequently. If you want to walk to restaurants, bars, and shops most days and don't mind urban density and street noise, this is a solid fit. It's less suited for those who rely on public transit, need lots of outdoor space, or prefer a slower pace.
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
No stations inside Fairfax, but these are close to its edge.
Who lives in Fairfax
Population
12,805
Renters
70%
of households rent
Median age
38
Median income
$122k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Around Fairfax
Erewhon · Erewhon Market · Ralphs · Trader Joe's
Bagel Broker · Blu Jam Cafe · Bluestone Lane Coffee · Copy Fair Cafe
Abba's · Angelini Alimentari · Antonio's · B'koah Bakery & Cafe
Pan Pacific Park · Poinsettia Recreation Center
Pilates · Prevail Boxing · The Phoenix Effect
Check your commute from Fairfax
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Similar neighborhoods
Little Saigon
#61 of 346 for walkability
Mid-Wilshire
~$2,847/mo
#35 of 346 for walkability
Beverly Grove
~$3,338/mo
#4 of 346 for walkability
East Garden Grove
#113 of 346 for walkability
Next to Fairfax
What the census says about Fairfax
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Fairfax; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 31 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 58%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1944
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 3%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 10%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 90%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 29%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 2 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 2,169
- total housing units
Averaged across 4 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Fairfax in the regional index
How Fairfax places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Plenty nearby, easy to get around
Ranks #8 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Cheap rent without needing a car
Ranks #56 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Fairfax
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Frequently asked questions
How walkable is Fairfax?+
Very walkable. Fairfax ranks 7th out of 114 LA neighborhoods for walkability, meaning most daily errands can be done on foot. You'll have about 13 restaurants, 2-3 grocery stores, and multiple coffee shops within a short walk.
Do I need a car in Fairfax?+
Yes, a car is strongly recommended. While the neighborhood itself is walkable, public transit is minimal (ranks 102nd out of 114). The two nearby Metro D Line stations on Wilshire are useful but limited for broader LA mobility.
What is rent like in Fairfax?+
New leases average about $3,004 per month (as of May 2026), which ranks 80th out of 114 neighborhoods. That's about $1,000 more than the LA median, placing it in the middle-to-upper range. Current residents pay a median of $2,214, but that reflects long-term and stabilized leases.
Is the air quality good?+
It's below average for LA. Fairfax ranks 18th out of 114 for air quality and is below the California median for diesel PM exposure. Traffic and urban density contribute to this.
Is Fairfax walkable?+
Fairfax ranks #7 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, most daily errands can be done on foot.
What is the average rent in Fairfax?+
A new lease in Fairfax typically asks around $3,004 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 Fairfax have Metro rail access?+
Not within the neighborhood itself, but Wilshire / La Brea (Metro D Line) is about 0.7 km from the Fairfax boundary.
How is the air quality in Fairfax?+
Fairfax has below the California median for diesel PM exposure, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 39 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Fairfax?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Fairfax are Little Saigon, Mid-Wilshire, Beverly Grove and East Garden Grove.