Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Mid-Wilshire
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Mid-Wilshire
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 Mid-Wilshire scores for you
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Mid-Wilshire is a central Los Angeles neighborhood known for world-class cultural institutions. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Petersen Automotive Museum anchor the area, alongside the Miracle Mile shopping district, which has drawn visitors and residents for decades. It is a dense urban core with consistent foot traffic and established infrastructure.
The neighborhood sits at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and several major cross streets, making it a hub for both transit and car traffic. It ranks 48th of 114 LA neighborhoods overall, placing it solidly in the middle tier for walkability, amenities, and livability. Rents here are above the LA median, reflecting the location and cultural draw.
Living here
Day-to-day life in Mid-Wilshire revolves around walking to shops, restaurants, and cultural venues. You can handle most errands on foot, about 9 restaurants, 3 coffee shops, and 2 grocery stores sit within a short walk of any given location. The Wilshire/La Brea and Wilshire/Fairfax Metro D Line stations run through the neighborhood, offering some transit options, though many residents rely on cars. Parking is competitive and street parking can be tight.
The neighborhood is heavier on concrete than green space, with only 5% tree canopy compared to the LA average of 6%. Traffic on Wilshire and nearby corridors is above average for the city, and air quality ranks in the lower half of LA neighborhoods due to diesel PM exposure. This is an active, walkable area with clear tradeoffs: cultural amenities and foot traffic come with noise, congestion, and limited shade.
Who it's for
Mid-Wilshire suits renters who prioritize walkability to restaurants, museums, and shopping over quiet or tree-lined streets. It works well for people who work on or near Wilshire Boulevard or can use the D Line, or those comfortable with a car commute. If you value urban energy, cultural institutions, and the ability to walk for most daily needs, and do not mind traffic and limited parking, this neighborhood delivers. It is not ideal if you prioritize green space, very low stress commutes, or below-average rents.
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: 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 Mid-Wilshire, 1 more nearby.
Who lives in Mid-Wilshire
Population
21,865
Renters
76%
of households rent
Median age
42
Median income
$92k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Mid-Wilshire
4 public schools sit inside this area · 4 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizens of the World Charter School HollywoodCharter Elementary | K-5 | 44% | 50% |
| Hancock Park Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 64% | 60% |
| Queen Anne Place Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 59% | 54% |
| Wilshire Crest Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 47% | 39% |
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 Mid-Wilshire
Ralphs · Smart & Final · Smart & Final extra! · Vons
Acai Republic · Black Dog Coffee · Cafe Nemo · Its Coffee and Tea
All American Sausage Co. · Blue Ribbon Sushi · Bryan's Pit Barbecue · Buna Ethiopian Restaurant
Carthay Circle Park · Hancock Park · Harold A Henry Park · Los Angeles High Memorial Park
Equinox · LA Fitness · Planet Fitness · Sorrel Studio
Check your commute from Mid-Wilshire
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Similar neighborhoods
Fairfax
~$3,004/mo
#7 of 346 for walkability
Los Feliz
~$2,586/mo
#41 of 346 for walkability
Pico-Robertson
~$3,293/mo
#1 of 346 for walkability
Beverly Grove
~$3,338/mo
#4 of 346 for walkability
Next to Mid-Wilshire
What the census says about Mid-Wilshire
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Mid-Wilshire; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 31 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 65%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1948
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 6%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 10%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 93%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 25%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 2 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 5,832
- total housing units
Averaged across 10 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Mid-Wilshire in the regional index
How Mid-Wilshire places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Plenty nearby, easy to get around
Ranks #12 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Cheap rent without needing a car
Ranks #39 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Tree cover, clean air, little traffic
Ranks #66 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Mid-Wilshire
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Frequently asked questions
What is the rent here and how does it compare to LA?+
New leases start at about $2,850 per month as of May 2026, up 0.7% year-over-year. This is about 41% above the LA median of $2,016, ranking 77th of 114 neighborhoods (less expensive than the priciest areas but solidly mid-to-upper range). Current residents pay a median of $2,200, which reflects longer leases and rent-stabilized units.
Do I need a car in Mid-Wilshire?+
The neighborhood ranks 48th of 114 for transit access, with minimal service overall. The Metro D Line (Wilshire/La Brea and Wilshire/Fairfax stations) provides some coverage, but a car is strongly recommended for most residents. However, you can walk to most daily errands within the neighborhood itself.
Is the air quality good here?+
No. Mid-Wilshire ranks 30th of 114 for air quality and sits below the California median for diesel PM exposure. Traffic corridors like Wilshire Boulevard contribute to this. If air quality is a priority, neighborhoods like Fairfax, Pico-Robertson, or Los Feliz rank higher.
What is there to do nearby?+
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Petersen Automotive Museum, and the Miracle Mile shopping district are major draws. Within a short walk you will find about 9 restaurants, 2 coffee shops, and several parks including Hancock Park. The area has a strong cultural footprint and plenty of foot traffic.
Is Mid-Wilshire walkable?+
Mid-Wilshire ranks #35 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, most daily errands can be done on foot.
What is the average rent in Mid-Wilshire?+
A new lease in Mid-Wilshire typically asks around $2,847 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $2,200 (Census ACS), which includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants, so expect asking prices closer to the first number.
Does Mid-Wilshire have Metro rail access?+
Yes. Mid-Wilshire has 2 Metro rail stations within its boundary (Wilshire / La Brea, Wilshire / Fairfax), served by the Metro D Line.
How is the air quality in Mid-Wilshire?+
Mid-Wilshire has below the California median for diesel PM exposure, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 44 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Mid-Wilshire?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Mid-Wilshire are Fairfax, Los Feliz, Pico-Robertson and Beverly Grove.