Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Jefferson Park
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Jefferson 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 Jefferson Park scores for you
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Jefferson Park is a historic neighborhood in South Los Angeles, anchored by the Spanish Colonial Revival Jefferson Branch Library (added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987) and numerous Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments throughout the area. A portion of the neighborhood is designated as a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone, reflecting its architectural significance. The neighborhood has an urban character with a mix of residential blocks and the Expo/Crenshaw corridor running through it.
Living here means being part of a neighborhood with real history and community roots. The area ranks 26th for rent among LA neighborhoods, with new leases running around $2,469 per month, making it moderately priced compared to the LA average of about $2,016. You'll find solid transit access to the Metro E Line and K Line right at the Expo/Crenshaw stations, which sit on the neighborhood boundary.
Living here
Day-to-day life in Jefferson Park involves a mix of walkability and car dependence. You can handle some errands on foot (the area ranks 86th of 114 for walkability), but a car is useful for many trips since amenities like groceries and restaurants are limited within a short walk. The neighborhood experiences above-average traffic (ranks 20th of 114 for low traffic exposure), and tree cover is minimal at 4.1 percent, so summers can feel hot. Air quality is moderate for California, with some diesel PM exposure typical of urban corridors.
The nearby Expo/Crenshaw Metro stations give you direct access to downtown LA and other parts of the city without a car, though buses and rail service overall are modest compared to more transit-rich neighborhoods. If you work near the Metro lines or downtown, you can avoid driving some days.
Who it's for
Jefferson Park works best for renters who value neighborhood character and history, don't mind limited walkability, and either have a car or rely on the Metro E and K lines for commuting. It suits people drawn to South LA's cultural roots and architectural preservation, and who can afford rents in the moderate range. It's less ideal if you need extensive retail amenities or prefer a car-free lifestyle, though the Metro access is a real advantage if your commute aligns with the lines.
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: 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: 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.
Metro rail
1 station inside Jefferson Park, 3 more nearby.
Who lives in Jefferson Park
Population
22,708
Renters
68%
of households rent
Median age
37
Median income
$60k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Jefferson Park
3 public schools sit inside this area · 3 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-City's Prescott School of Enriched Sciences Elementary | 1-5 | 51% | 41% |
| Sixth Avenue Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 30% | 31% |
| Math and Science College PreparatoryCharter High School | 9-12 | 61% | 26% |
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 Jefferson Park
Leslie N Shaw Park
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What the census says about Jefferson Park
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Jefferson Park; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 38 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 78%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1941
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 16%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 8%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 89%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 53%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 2 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 1,612
- total housing units
Averaged across 3 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Jefferson Park in the regional index
How Jefferson Park places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Low rent and clean air together
Ranks #19 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where rent goes furthest
Ranks #28 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Cheap rent without needing a car
Ranks #33 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Jefferson Park
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Frequently asked questions
Is Jefferson Park walkable?+
It's walkable for some errands but ranks 86th of 114 LA neighborhoods for walkability. You can handle certain trips on foot, but a car is useful for most daily needs since grocery stores, restaurants, and other amenities are not dense nearby.
What's the transit access like?+
The Metro E Line and K Line both stop at Expo/Crenshaw, which sits on the neighborhood boundary, giving you direct access to downtown LA and other corridors. Beyond the metro rail, transit options are minimal, so a car is still recommended for most trips.
How much will rent cost?+
New leases run about $2,469 per month, putting Jefferson Park 26th for rent among LA neighborhoods. That's about $450 more than the LA median, though studio and one-bedroom units are cheaper (around $1,136 and $1,406 respectively).
What's the neighborhood known for?+
Jefferson Park has significant historic architecture, including the Spanish Colonial Revival Jefferson Branch Library (on the National Register of Historic Places since 1987) and fourteen LA Historic-Cultural Monuments. A portion is a designated Historic Preservation Overlay Zone, making it a neighborhood with real architectural character and community identity.
What is the average rent in Jefferson Park?+
A new lease in Jefferson Park typically asks around $2,469 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $1,546 (Census ACS), which includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants, so expect asking prices closer to the first number.
Does Jefferson Park have Metro rail access?+
Yes. Jefferson Park has 1 Metro rail station within its boundary (Expo / Crenshaw E-Line), served by the Metro E Line, Metro K Line.
How is the air quality in Jefferson Park?+
Jefferson Park has moderate diesel PM exposure for California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 52 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Jefferson Park?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Jefferson Park are South Park, Florence, Walnut Park and Vermont Square.