Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Historic South-Central
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Historic South-Central
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 Historic South-Central scores for you
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Historic South-Central sits on Metro A and E lines, making it one of LA's most transit-accessible neighborhoods. The area ranks 7th of 114 LA neighborhoods for transit access, with San Pedro Street, Grand/LATTC, and LATTC/Ortho Institute stations within the neighborhood boundary. You can walk to most daily errands (ranking 31st for walkability), with restaurants, parks, and coffee shops within a short walk.
Rent here is exceptionally low by LA standards. New leases run about $2,462 per month, but the neighborhood ranks 2nd of 114 for affordability. Current residents pay a median of $1,251, reflecting long-term leases and rent stability that new renters should not expect to match. Studios start around $1,151 and two-bedroom units around $1,603 among existing residents.
Living here
Day-to-day life centers on transit access and walkable commercial corridors. You will find restaurants like King Taco and Holbox within a short walk, plus parks including Trinity Park and Central Avenue Jazz Park. The trade-off is air quality and tree cover. The neighborhood ranks 103rd for air quality (high diesel PM exposure) and 96th for canopy cover, with predominantly concrete streetscapes and limited shade. Traffic exposure ranks 40th, above average but not extreme.
Getting around on foot works for errands, but you will see the impacts of heavy industrial corridors and freight routes. The area is denser than most of LA and significantly more walkable, but those same characteristics bring diesel pollution and less vegetation. If you rely on transit and can tolerate air-quality trade-offs for affordability and connectivity, this neighborhood functions well.
Who it's for
Historic South-Central suits renters who prioritize transit access and low rent over air quality and green space. It works for people working near Metro lines, commuting downtown, or choosing affordability as a core priority. It is less ideal for those sensitive to air quality, families seeking parks, or renters who need abundant neighborhood amenities within walking distance. The neighborhood is practical for transit-dependent households and those accepting industrial urban trade-offs.
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: 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: limited transit, infrequent service in this area.
Transit exists but headways are long enough that a car or bike is more practical for most daily trips.
Environmental data from CalEnviroScreen 4.0 and the EPA Smart Location Database. Informational only, not professional advice for a housing decision.
Metro rail
3 stations inside Historic South-Central, 3 more nearby.
Who lives in Historic South-Central
Population
43,643
Renters
83%
of households rent
Median age
31
Median income
$47k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Historic South-Central
21 public schools sit inside this area · 19 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| AcceleratedCharter Elementary | K-8 | 35% | 23% |
| Accelerated Charter ElementaryCharter Elementary | K-6 | 43% | 39% |
| Center for Advanced LearningCharter Elementary | K-5 | 51% | 32% |
| Dolores Huerta Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 48% | 24% |
| Gabriella Charter 2Charter Elementary | K-8 | 33% | 19% |
| Global Education AcademyCharter Elementary | K-8 | 49% | 39% |
| Harmony Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 25% | 25% |
| Maple Primary Center Elementary | K-1 | — | — |
| Quincy Jones Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 39% | 33% |
| Ricardo Lizarraga Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 28% | 26% |
| Synergy Charter AcademyCharter Elementary | K-5 | 56% | 47% |
| Trinity Street Elementary Elementary | 2-5 | 25% | 29% |
| Twenty-Eighth Street Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 20% | 28% |
| Wadsworth Avenue Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 24% | 23% |
| West Vernon Avenue Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 41% | 43% |
| John Adams Middle Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 46% | 32% |
| William Jefferson Clinton Middle Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 25% | 26% |
| Animo Jackie Robinson HighCharter High School | 9-12 | 64% | 25% |
| Orthopaedic Hospital High School | 9-12 | 79% | 30% |
| Wallis Annenberg HighCharter High School | 9-12 | 42% | 23% |
| Abram Friedman 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 Historic South-Central
Burger King · Delicious at the Dunbar · Domino's · Dunkin'
Avalon San Pedro Park · Central Avenue Jazz Park · Gilbert Lindsay Recreation Center · Trinity Park
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Similar neighborhoods
Next to Historic South-Central
What the census says about Historic South-Central
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Historic South-Central; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 36 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 77%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1949
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 34%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 5%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 82%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 29%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 2 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 3,305
- total housing units
Averaged across 8 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Historic South-Central in the regional index
How Historic South-Central places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Where rent goes furthest
Ranks #6 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Cheap rent without needing a car
Ranks #9 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- The areas with no affordable escape from pollution
Ranks #10 of 262 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Historic South-Central
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Frequently asked questions
Is there good public transit here?+
Yes. The neighborhood ranks 7th of 114 LA neighborhoods for transit access, with Metro A Line stations (San Pedro Street, Grand/LATTC, Washington) and Metro E Line stations (LATTC/Ortho Institute, Jefferson/USC, Expo Park/USC) within or immediately adjacent. You can reach downtown and other parts of LA quickly without a car.
What is the rent like?+
New leases average $2,462 per month, which is below the LA median and ranks 2nd for affordability. Studios lease around $1,151 and two-bedroom units around $1,603 among current residents, though new tenants should budget the asking rent of $2,462.
Is it walkable for groceries and errands?+
Most daily errands are walkable (the neighborhood ranks 31st for walkability), and you will find restaurants and coffee shops nearby. However, there are no gyms or grocery stores within the typical walking distance, so you may need to travel by transit for some staples.
What are the air quality and environmental concerns?+
Air quality is a significant concern. The neighborhood ranks 103rd of 114 for air quality and is in the top quartile in California for diesel PM exposure due to freight corridors. Tree cover is very limited (1.4%, ranking 96th), so the area is predominantly concrete with minimal shade.
Do I need a car?+
No, the strong transit access makes car ownership unnecessary for most people. Metro A and E lines provide frequent service to downtown, USC, and broader LA. Walking covers daily errands, though you will need transit for grocery stores and some amenities outside the immediate area.
Is Historic South-Central walkable?+
Historic South-Central ranks #37 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, most daily errands can be done on foot.
What is the average rent in Historic South-Central?+
A new lease in Historic South-Central typically asks around $2,462 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $1,251 (Census ACS), which includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants, so expect asking prices closer to the first number.
Does Historic South-Central have Metro rail access?+
Yes. Historic South-Central has 3 Metro rail stations within its boundary (San Pedro Street, Grand / LATTC, LATTC / Ortho Institute), served by the Metro A Line, Metro E Line.
How is the air quality in Historic South-Central?+
Historic South-Central has high diesel PM exposure, top quartile in California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 86 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Historic South-Central?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Historic South-Central are Willowbrook, Vernon, Lincoln Heights and Broadway-Manchester.