Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Glassell Park
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Glassell Park
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 Glassell Park scores for you
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Glassell Park is a residential neighborhood in Northeast Los Angeles, nestled in the San Rafael Hills. It's a quieter, less touristy corner of the city where you'll find a mix of single-family homes and modest apartment buildings. The area has a local, lived-in character without heavy foot traffic or the density you'd encounter closer to downtown.
The neighborhood ranks in the middle of LA for overall livability (51st of 114), with decent access to some services but real tradeoffs when it comes to walkability and transit. It's the kind of place where you'll likely need a car for most errands and definitely for getting around the city.
Living here
Day-to-day life in Glassell Park means relying on a car. While you'll find about one coffee spot, two restaurants, and a grocery store within a short walk, public transit options are minimal (the area ranks 58th of 114 for transit), and there's no Metro rail service nearby. Traffic here is above average for LA (ranking 75.8th percentile), and air quality is moderate, with some diesel particulate exposure typical of California urban areas.
The neighborhood has very limited tree cover at 7.2 percent, so summers can feel hot and exposed. Parks like Glassell Park Recreation Center and Juntos Family Park provide some outdoor space, and walkability is moderate (0.61), meaning you can handle some errands on foot but will find others inconvenient without a car. It's a trade-off area: quieter than dense neighborhoods, but less convenient overall.
Who it's for
Glassell Park works best for renters who have a car and don't mind a quieter, less walkable neighborhood. It's good for people working in Northeast LA or comfortable with a commute, as well as anyone prioritizing cheaper rent (ranking 52nd of 114) over urban convenience. If you need frequent access to nightlife, diverse restaurants, or the ability to walk to most errands, you'll likely feel constrained here.
Environment & livability
Air quality: moderate diesel PM exposure for California.
Above the state median, linked to mild long-term respiratory risk in some studies. Worth considering for sensitive households.
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.
Who lives in Glassell Park
Population
23,333
Renters
60%
of households rent
Median age
38
Median income
$83k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Glassell Park
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Creative Learning AcademyCharter Elementary | K-5 | 41% | 32% |
| Fletcher Drive Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 35% | 22% |
| Glassell Park ES Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math Magnet Elementary | K-5 | 35% | 27% |
| ISANA Octavia AcademyCharter Elementary | K-8 | 47% | 39% |
| Washington Irving Middle School Math, Music and Engineering Magnet Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 64% | 53% |
| Alliance Leichtman-Levine FF HighCharter High School | 9-12 | 85% | 53% |
| Renaissance Arts AcademyCharter Elementary-High Combination | K-12 | 84% | 91% |
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 Glassell Park
Super A · Super King
Habitat Coffee · Little Barn Coffee House
Burger King · Denny's · El Pollo Loco · Happy Donut
Bowtie/G1 Parcel · Cerritos Park · Glassell Park Recreation Center · Juntos Family Park
Check your commute from Glassell Park
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Similar neighborhoods
Next to Glassell Park
What the census says about Glassell Park
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Glassell Park; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 33 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 70%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1963
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 13%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 6%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 95%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 51%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 2 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 3,971
- total housing units
Averaged across 8 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Glassell Park in the regional index
How Glassell Park places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- The areas with no affordable escape from pollution
Ranks #54 of 262 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Cheap rent without needing a car
Ranks #79 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where rent goes furthest
Ranks #80 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Glassell Park
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Frequently asked questions
What's the actual rent I should budget for a new lease in Glassell Park?+
New leases are running about $2,769 a month on average (as of May 2026). Current residents pay less (around $1,807) because many have long-term or rent-stabilized leases. Budget from the new lease price if you're moving in today.
Do I need a car in Glassell Park?+
Yes. Public transit is minimal (the neighborhood ranks 58th of 114 for transit access), with no Metro rail stations nearby. While you can walk to some local spots, you'll need a car for most errands and to get around LA.
How's the air quality and traffic?+
Air quality is moderate, with diesel PM exposure ranking 77th of 114. Traffic is above LA average at the 75.8th percentile, so expect congestion on main corridors. Neither is critical, but both are worth noting if you're sensitive to either.
What parks and green space are nearby?+
Glassell Park Recreation Center, Juntos Family Park, and Cerritos Park are within the neighborhood, offering some outdoor options. Tree cover is very limited at 7.2 percent though, so don't expect a heavily shaded, green environment.
Is Glassell Park walkable?+
Glassell Park ranks #242 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
What is the average rent in Glassell Park?+
A new lease in Glassell Park typically asks around $2,769 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $1,807 (Census ACS), which includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants, so expect asking prices closer to the first number.
How is the air quality in Glassell Park?+
Glassell Park has moderate diesel PM exposure for California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 68 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Glassell Park?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Glassell Park are Maywood, Arlington Heights, Florence and Central-Alameda.