Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Playa Vista
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Playa Vista
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 Playa Vista scores for you
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Playa Vista is a planned community on the Westside that emerged from the site of the historic Hughes Aircraft Company headquarters, where the legendary Spruce Goose was built. Since 2002, it has transformed into a modern neighborhood that serves as a hub for technology, media, and entertainment companies, earning its place in Silicon Beach. The result is a relatively new, mixed-use area with a deliberate layout that prioritizes walkability and neighborhood amenities.
The neighborhood's infrastructure reflects its planned origins. You will find contemporary office parks, retail corridors, and residential buildings arranged in a cohesive design. Most of the built environment is relatively recent and polished, with wide streets and straightforward navigation. It ranks 15th for walkability among LA neighborhoods, meaning most daily errands can be accomplished on foot.
Living here
Day-to-day life in Playa Vista centers on the newer commercial and retail infrastructure. Within a short walk, you will find about 2.7 restaurants, 1.75 coffee shops, 1.5 grocery stores, and 1.33 gyms. Parks are plentiful, with about 4.5 within easy reach, including The Sports Park at Playa Vista, Longwood Park, and Icon Park. The neighborhood has very limited tree cover at 1.9 percent, so it reads as predominantly concrete and open streets rather than shaded and leafy.
Car dependence is significant here. Although there is no Metro rail nearby, the neighborhood ranks 69th for transit access among 114 LA areas, well below the city average. You will need a car for most trips beyond the immediate walkable core. Traffic exposure ranks above average at 68th, and air quality is moderate, in the 70th percentile for diesel PM exposure. The combination means commuting or running errands beyond your immediate area typically requires driving.
Who it's for
Playa Vista suits professionals working in tech, media, or entertainment who prioritize proximity to employment and a newer, contemporary living environment over established neighborhood character. It works well for renters who can afford above-average housing costs (asking rents around $3,586 for new leases) and are willing to own or regularly use a car. It is less suitable for renters who rely heavily on transit, prefer mature tree cover and older urban streetscapes, or prioritize affordability.
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: 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.
Who lives in Playa Vista
Population
1,581
Renters
47%
of households rent
Median age
42
Median income
$129k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Playa Vista
2 public schools sit inside this area · 2 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playa Vista Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 71% | 65% |
| Playa del Rey Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 69% | 62% |
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 Playa Vista
Whole Foods Market · yummy.com
Big Mango Cafe · Blue Bottle - Playa Vista · Cabbage Patch · Hangar 19
Einstein Bros. Bagels · Gulp · Hopdoddy Burgers and Beers · Poke
Ballona Discovery Park · Bluff Trail Park · Central Park at Playa Vista · Chess Park
Evolution Fitness · LA Fitness · The CenterPointe Club
Check your commute from Playa Vista
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Next to Playa Vista
What the census says about Playa Vista
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Playa Vista; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 27 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 71%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1963
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 3%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 18%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 91%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 60%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 3 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 1,803
- total housing units
Averaged across 4 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Playa Vista in the regional index
How Playa Vista places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Plenty nearby, easy to get around
Ranks #35 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Playa Vista
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Frequently asked questions
What is the rent in Playa Vista?+
New leases average about $3,586 per month as of May 2026, roughly 78% higher than the LA average. Current residents pay a median of $2,426, but that figure reflects longer-term and stabilized tenants. Budget for the asking rent if you are searching for a new lease.
Do I need a car in Playa Vista?+
Yes, a car is strongly recommended. The neighborhood has no Metro rail and ranks 69th for transit access among 114 LA neighborhoods. While you can walk to many local errands, any trip beyond the immediate area requires driving.
Is Playa Vista walkable?+
Yes, it ranks 15th for walkability among LA neighborhoods, meaning most daily errands can be done on foot. You will find restaurants, coffee shops, groceries, and gyms within walking distance of most residential areas. However, the pedestrian experience is dominated by wide, open streets with very little tree cover.
What are the parks like in Playa Vista?+
There are about 4.5 parks within a short walk, including The Sports Park at Playa Vista, Longwood Park, Icon Park, and Bluff Trail Park. They offer recreational space, though the neighborhood overall has very limited tree cover at 1.9 percent, making shaded outdoor areas less common.
What is the average rent in Playa Vista?+
A new lease in Playa Vista typically asks around $3,586 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $2,426 (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 Playa Vista?+
Playa Vista has moderate diesel PM exposure for California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 70 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Playa Vista?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Playa Vista are Artesia, Torrance, Quail Hill and Buena Park.