Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Hollywood
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Hollywood
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 Hollywood scores for you
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Hollywood is synonymous with the film industry, and the neighborhood itself reflects that legacy. Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Walt Disney Studios, Sony Pictures, and Amazon MGM Studios all operate in or near the area, making it a hub for entertainment professionals and those drawn to that world. The neighborhood sits in Central Los Angeles with a distinctly urban character, though it comes with real tradeoffs in air quality and green space.
Walking around Hollywood feels like navigating a dense, built-out city neighborhood. Most daily errands can be done on foot, and the concentration of restaurants, coffee shops, and gyms means you will not need to travel far for basics. However, the neighborhood ranks in the bottom third of LA for air quality, with significant diesel particulate exposure, and tree cover is sparse at under 3 percent of the area.
Living here
Your daily routine in Hollywood centers on walkability. You can handle groceries, coffee, and dining within a short walk, and about 15 restaurants and 3 coffee shops sit within a typical block cluster. Parks like Carlton Way Park and Dorothy J. Smith Park offer respite, though they are limited in number. The tradeoff is that you will see mostly pavement and built structures rather than greenery.
Traffic is above average for LA, and transit access is minimal despite the three Metro B Line stations (Hollywood/Highland, Hollywood/Vine, and Hollywood/Western) all being within the neighborhood. If you do not own a car, you will be reliant on the B Line for rail access, which limits your mobility significantly. The area's density and urban intensity mean noise and congestion are baseline expectations.
Who it's for
Hollywood works best for renters who work in the entertainment industry or nearby areas, value being able to walk to restaurants and amenities over green space or clean air, and either own a car or are comfortable relying primarily on one Metro rail line. It suits younger professionals and creative workers who prioritize walkability and nightlife over quietness or environmental concerns. If you need clean air, abundant parks, or strong transit access, look elsewhere.
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: 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
2 stations inside Hollywood, 1 more nearby.
Who lives in Hollywood
Population
49,107
Renters
92%
of households rent
Median age
36
Median income
$60k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Hollywood
11 public schools sit inside this area · 11 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner Street Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 49% | 40% |
| Grant Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 43% | 39% |
| Hollywood Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 31% | 35% |
| Melrose Avenue Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 72% | 71% |
| Santa Monica Boulevard Community CharterCharter Elementary | K-6 | 42% | 34% |
| Van Ness Avenue Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 32% | 41% |
| Vine Street Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 45% | 50% |
| Hubert Howe Bancroft Middle Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 37% | 27% |
| Joseph Le Conte Middle Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 29% | 16% |
| Helen Bernstein High High School | 9-12 | 33% | 22% |
| Hollywood Senior High High School | 9-12 | 75% | 34% |
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 Hollywood
Mother's · Ralphs · Sprouts Farmers Market · Trader Joe's
After Coffee · Cafe Audrey · Cafe Paris · Captial One Cafe
25 Degrees · 800 Degrees · ABL Hollywood · All about the Bread
Carlton Way Park · De Longpre Park · Dorothy J. and Benjamin B. Smith Park · Gordon Street Park
Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood · DREAMYOGA · Equinox · Gold's Gym
Check your commute from Hollywood
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Similar neighborhoods
Next to Hollywood
What the census says about Hollywood
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Hollywood; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 35 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 56%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1966
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 11%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 13%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 91%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 8%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 1 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 9,365
- total housing units
Averaged across 11 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Hollywood in the regional index
How Hollywood places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Plenty nearby, easy to get around
Ranks #5 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- The areas with no affordable escape from pollution
Ranks #6 of 262 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Cheap rent without needing a car
Ranks #19 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Hollywood
Found a place you like? Score it against your priorities to see how well any address fits your budget and commute.
Frequently asked questions
What does rent cost in Hollywood?+
New leases average $2,609 a month (as of May 2026), up slightly year-over-year. Current residents pay a median of $1,879, but that figure includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants; budget based on the asking rent. Studios run around $1,455, one-bedrooms $1,751, and two-bedrooms $2,246.
Is Hollywood walkable?+
Yes. Hollywood ranks 9th of 114 LA neighborhoods for walkability, well above the city average. Most daily errands can be done on foot, and you will find restaurants, coffee, gyms, and grocery stores within a short walk. However, tree cover is minimal, so the walk is through a concrete-heavy environment.
Do I need a car in Hollywood?+
The Metro B Line serves the neighborhood with three stations, but transit access overall is weak by LA standards. A car is strongly recommended if you work outside the immediate area or need flexibility. Parking congestion is part of the trade-off of living in such a dense, built-out neighborhood.
What is the air quality like?+
Hollywood ranks 100th of 114 LA neighborhoods for air quality and sits in the top quartile for diesel particulate matter exposure in California. This is a significant environmental concern if you are sensitive to pollution or spend time outdoors regularly.
What is the average rent in Hollywood?+
A new lease in Hollywood typically asks around $2,609 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $1,879 (Census ACS), which includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants, so expect asking prices closer to the first number. Among 264 current listings on Saktoo, the median asking rent is $2,150.
Does Hollywood have Metro rail access?+
Yes. Hollywood has 2 Metro rail stations within its boundary (Hollywood / Highland, Hollywood / Vine), served by the Metro B Line.
How is the air quality in Hollywood?+
Hollywood has high diesel PM exposure, top quartile in California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 84 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Hollywood?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Hollywood are East Hollywood, Palms, Koreatown and West Hollywood.
How many apartments are available in Hollywood?+
Saktoo currently tracks 264 active listings in Hollywood, starting at $899 per month.