Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Manchester Square
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Manchester Square
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 Manchester Square scores for you
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Manchester Square is a South Los Angeles neighborhood defined by low-rise residential streets and modest commercial corridors. It sits in a car-dependent pocket of the city with minimal public transit and limited walkability compared to LA overall, though residents can handle some errands on foot. The area ranks among LA's cleanest for air quality, a notable advantage in a region where pollution varies sharply by location.
What you'll find here is straightforward rental housing without the amenities density or transit access of more central neighborhoods. Tree cover is sparse, so summers feel exposed and hot. This is a working-class area where affordability and air quality are the main draws, not walkability or nightlife.
Living here
Daily life centers on driving. You'll need a car for most shopping, dining, and work commutes since there's no Metro rail access and bus service is minimal. Within a short walk you'll find about 2 restaurants and 1 grocery store on average, but the overall amenities count is below LA's median. Traffic exposure is above average for the city, so commuting can feel congested.
The neighborhood has minimal tree canopy (rank 111 of 114 LA neighborhoods), making it feel bare and hot compared to leafier areas. Parks exist, like Saint Andrews Recreation Center, but are sparse. What you're paying for here is lower rent relative to much of LA and cleaner air than many South LA areas, not convenience or vibrant street life.
Who it's for
Manchester Square works for renters prioritizing affordability and air quality over walkability and transit. If you have a car and work locally or don't mind driving, or if you're price-sensitive and value cleaner air, this neighborhood makes sense. It's not a good fit if you rely on public transit, want to run most errands on foot, or need dense nightlife and dining options nearby.
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: 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.
Who lives in Manchester Square
Population
12,848
Renters
57%
of households rent
Median age
39
Median income
$66k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Manchester Square
2 public schools sit inside this area · 1 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raymond Avenue Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 37% | 37% |
| TEACH Preparatory Mildred S. Cunningham & Edith H. Morris ElementaryCharter Elementary | K-4 | — | — |
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 Manchester Square
Ralphs
Burger King · El Chino · Kinly Donuts · Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken
Saint Andrews Recreation Center
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Similar neighborhoods
Hyde Park
~$2,318/mo
#131 of 346 for walkability
Chesterfield Square
~$2,485/mo
#34 of 346 for walkability
Gramercy Park
~$2,489/mo
#15 of 346 for walkability
Irwindale
#183 of 346 for walkability
Next to Manchester Square
What the census says about Manchester Square
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Manchester Square; 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
- ~1943
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 11%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 7%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 88%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 65%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 3 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 1,627
- total housing units
Averaged across 4 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Manchester Square in the regional index
How Manchester Square places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Low rent and clean air together
Ranks #35 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where home prices go furthest
Ranks #67 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where rent goes furthest
Ranks #71 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Manchester Square
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Frequently asked questions
How much is rent in Manchester Square?+
New leases average about $2,489 per month, which is about $473 below the LA average and ranks 12th cheapest of 114 neighborhoods. That said, current residents pay a median of $1,397, a figure skewed low by rent-stabilized tenants; budget from the asking rent for a realistic picture.
Do I need a car here?+
Yes, strongly. Manchester Square has no Metro rail stations and minimal bus service, so public transit is not a reliable option. Walkability is below average for LA, so a car is essential for most errands, work commutes, and getting around.
What's the air quality like?+
Manchester Square ranks 9th out of 114 LA neighborhoods for air quality and sits below the California median for diesel PM exposure. This is a genuine advantage compared to many parts of South LA and makes it attractive if you're sensitive to pollution.
What's nearby to do or eat?+
Within a short walk you'll find restaurants like Wingstop and Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken, plus Ralphs grocery and Saint Andrews Recreation Center. Amenities are sparse compared to the LA average, so entertainment and dining options are limited without driving.
Is it walkable?+
Walkability is below LA's median; you can handle some errands on foot, but most trips require a car. Tree cover is very limited (rank 111 of 114), so the streets feel exposed and hot rather than inviting for walking.
Is Manchester Square walkable?+
Manchester Square ranks #138 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
What is the average rent in Manchester Square?+
A new lease in Manchester Square typically asks around $2,489 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $1,397 (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 Manchester Square?+
Manchester Square has below the California median for diesel PM exposure, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 33 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Manchester Square?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Manchester Square are Hyde Park, Chesterfield Square, Gramercy Park and Irwindale.