Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Leimert Park
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Leimert 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 Leimert Park scores for you
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Leimert Park is a South Los Angeles neighborhood with strong walkability and excellent transit access thanks to two Metro lines running through it. The Expo/Crenshaw E-Line and the K-Line (with three local stations: Leimert Park, Martin Luther King Jr, and Expo/Crenshaw) make it easy to reach other parts of the city without a car. The area ranks 23rd for walkability among LA neighborhoods, meaning most daily errands are doable on foot.
The neighborhood has a mix of local businesses and restaurants within walking distance. You'll find coffee spots like Harun Coffee and Ora, groceries at Albertsons and Right Choice Caribbean Market, and parks including Leimert Plaza Park and Pocket Park. Air quality here is notably strong, ranking 5th best in the city, and traffic is moderate and below the state median.
Living here
Day-to-day life in Leimert Park centers around the transit access and walkable street network. With two Metro lines right in the neighborhood, getting downtown or to other LA destinations is straightforward. The local commercial corridor has restaurants, cafes, and basic services within a short walk, though the selection is more modest than denser neighborhoods. You can handle most routine errands without a car, though having one still provides flexibility for some trips.
The physical environment is very concrete-heavy, with only about 2% tree canopy coverage, so shade and green space are limited. That said, the air quality is excellent by LA standards, and traffic congestion is moderate compared to the city overall. The neighborhood ranks 44th for overall amenities, meaning some categories like gyms require traveling a bit farther.
Who it's for
Leimert Park works best for renters who prioritize transit access and don't mind a straightforward, less densely developed setting. It suits people working downtown or on the K or E lines, as well as those who want cleaner air and walkability for daily errands without needing trendy shopping or dining scenes. It's a practical choice if you value the Metro connection and local convenience over nightlife or dense commercial density.
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: moderate traffic exposure, below the state median.
Traffic proximity here is better than average for California.
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
4 stations inside Leimert Park, 2 more nearby.
Who lives in Leimert Park
Population
3,916
Renters
34%
of households rent
Median age
46
Median income
$85k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Leimert Park
5 public schools sit inside this area · 5 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today's Fresh Start-ComptonCharter Elementary | K-8 | 40% | 33% |
| Tom Bradley Global Awareness Magnet Elementary | K-5 | 45% | 38% |
| Audubon Middle Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 29% | 15% |
| CATCH Prep Charter High, Inc.Charter High School | 9-12 | 66% | 34% |
| Iovine and Young Center High School | 9-12 | 88% | 46% |
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 Leimert Park
Albertsons · Right Choice Caribbean Market
Adassa's Island Cafe · Harun Coffee · Ora · Starbucks
Ackee Bamboo · Chipotle · Denny's · El Pollo Loco
Leimert Plaza Park · Pocket Park · Stocker Plaza
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Similar neighborhoods
Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw
~$2,584/mo
#77 of 346 for walkability
Gramercy Park
~$2,489/mo
#15 of 346 for walkability
Chesterfield Square
~$2,485/mo
#34 of 346 for walkability
La Palma
#112 of 346 for walkability
Next to Leimert Park
What the census says about Leimert Park
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Leimert Park; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 38 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 72%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1943
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 10%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 6%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 89%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 61%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 2 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 1,297
- total housing units
Averaged across 3 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Leimert Park in the regional index
How Leimert Park places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Low rent and clean air together
Ranks #3 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where rent goes furthest
Ranks #9 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Tree cover, clean air, little traffic
Ranks #10 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Leimert Park
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Frequently asked questions
What's the rent range for a new lease in Leimert Park?+
New leases average about $2,174 per month as of May 2026, which is roughly $1,100 less than the LA average. One-bedrooms run around $1,292, while two-bedrooms are about $1,946 and three-bedrooms about $2,444.
Is Leimert Park walkable for daily errands?+
Yes. The neighborhood ranks 23rd for walkability in LA, and most daily errands can be done on foot. You'll find groceries, coffee, and restaurants within a short walk, though the variety is more basic than in denser neighborhoods.
What transit options are available?+
Two Metro lines serve the area directly: the Expo/Crenshaw E-Line and the K-Line, which has three stations in Leimert Park (Leimert Park, Martin Luther King Jr, and Expo/Crenshaw). This is strong for LA transit access and makes car-free living feasible if you work downtown or near these lines.
How's the air quality and traffic?+
Air quality ranks 5th best among LA neighborhoods, with below-median diesel PM exposure. Traffic is moderate and ranks 10th for lowest congestion in the city, both better than the LA average.
Is Leimert Park walkable?+
Leimert Park ranks #30 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, most daily errands can be done on foot.
What is the average rent in Leimert Park?+
A new lease in Leimert Park typically asks around $2,174 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $1,470 (Census ACS), which includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants, so expect asking prices closer to the first number.
Does Leimert Park have Metro rail access?+
Yes. Leimert Park has 4 Metro rail stations within its boundary (Expo / Crenshaw E-Line, Leimert Park, Martin Luther King Jr), served by the Metro E Line, Metro K Line.
How is the air quality in Leimert Park?+
Leimert Park has below the California median for diesel PM exposure, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 26 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Leimert Park?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Leimert Park are Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw, Gramercy Park, Chesterfield Square and La Palma.