Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Silver Lake
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Silver Lake
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 Silver Lake scores for you
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Silver Lake is a residential neighborhood in east-central Los Angeles known for its architecturally distinctive homes, independently owned businesses, and creative energy. The area takes its name from the Silver Lake Reservoir, built in 1907, which anchors the neighborhood's character. It has become a destination for renters seeking a walkable urban environment with strong local character and a diverse food and retail scene.
The neighborhood offers a notably walkable experience compared to many LA areas, ranking 34th for walkability out of 114 neighborhoods. You can accomplish most daily errands on foot, with about 8 restaurants, 3 coffee shops, and 2 grocery stores within a short walk. However, transit options are limited (ranking 104th), so a car remains important for getting around the wider city.
Living here
Day-to-day life in Silver Lake revolves around exploring the neighborhood's independent shops, cafes, and restaurants. The tree-lined streets offer moderate canopy coverage (10th best in the city), and you will find parks like Bellevue Recreation Center and Laurel and Hardy Park scattered throughout for outdoor recreation. The neighborhood experiences above-average traffic exposure and sits in the middle range for air quality, so noise and emissions are noticeable but not extreme.
Most residents can walk to coffee shops, restaurants, and local groceries without difficulty, though for major shopping or exploring other parts of LA, you will need a car. The neighborhood ranks 26th for overall amenity density, striking a middle ground, and rent has increased modestly at 2.2 percent year-over-year, suggesting stable (not escalating) housing costs in this area.
Who it's for
Silver Lake suits renters who value walkability and local character over convenient public transit. If you work locally or remotely, enjoy exploring neighborhood spots on foot, and do not mind driving for major outings, this area works well. It appeals to creative professionals and anyone seeking architecturally interesting homes and a strong independent business community, though it may feel less convenient for those who rely heavily on Metro for commuting.
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: moderate tree cover for the area.
Some shade and green presence on most blocks, above average for dense urban LA neighborhoods.
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
No stations inside Silver Lake, but these are close to its edge.
Who lives in Silver Lake
Population
29,794
Renters
61%
of households rent
Median age
40
Median income
$118k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Silver Lake
4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivanhoe Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 82% | 78% |
| Lexington Avenue Primary Center Elementary | K-2 | — | — |
| Lockwood Avenue Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 40% | 25% |
| Micheltorena Street Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 65% | 54% |
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 Silver Lake
Erewhon · Virgil Farm MArket · Whole Foods Market
6XS Studio · Alfred Coffee Silverlake · Ali Mama Cafe · Bodega Park
Astro Family Restaurant · Bacari Silverlake · Barbrix · BBQ+Rice
Bellevue Recreation Center · Laurel and Hardy Park · Silver Lake Meadows Park · Silver Lake Recreation Center
Skyline Healthcare and Wellness Center · Y7 Studio
Check your commute from Silver Lake
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Similar neighborhoods
Next to Silver Lake
What the census says about Silver Lake
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Silver Lake; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 35 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 65%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1949
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 5%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 11%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 93%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 42%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 2 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 4,340
- total housing units
Averaged across 7 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Silver Lake in the regional index
How Silver Lake places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Plenty nearby, easy to get around
Ranks #24 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Low rent and clean air together
Ranks #36 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Tree cover, clean air, little traffic
Ranks #36 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Silver Lake
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Frequently asked questions
What is the transit situation in Silver Lake?+
Silver Lake has limited public transit, ranking 104th out of 114 LA neighborhoods. The Metro B Line (Vermont Station stops) is nearby at 0.6-0.7 km away, but the area is designed around car travel. You should plan to own or regularly use a car for getting around the city.
How walkable is Silver Lake?+
Silver Lake is quite walkable, ranking 34th out of 114 neighborhoods. You can walk to most daily errands, with restaurants, coffee shops, and grocery stores within short walking distance. However, some trips beyond the immediate neighborhood will require a car.
What does rent cost in Silver Lake?+
New leases in Silver Lake currently average about $2,918 per month as of May 2026. Current residents pay a median of $1,953 because that figure includes longer-term tenants on lower rents. If you are moving now, budget closer to the asking rent of $2,918 for a typical unit.
Are there parks and green space nearby?+
Yes, Silver Lake has moderate tree coverage (10th best in LA) and several parks within walking distance, including Bellevue Recreation Center, Laurel and Hardy Park, Tesla Pocket Park, and Silver Lake Meadows Park. The neighborhood offers a decent amount of outdoor space for a dense urban area.
Is Silver Lake walkable?+
Silver Lake ranks #42 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, most daily errands can be done on foot.
What is the average rent in Silver Lake?+
A new lease in Silver Lake typically asks around $2,918 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $1,953 (Census ACS), which includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants, so expect asking prices closer to the first number. Among 49 current listings on Saktoo, the median asking rent is $2,795.
Does Silver Lake have Metro rail access?+
Not within the neighborhood itself, but Vermont / Santa Monica (Metro B Line) is about 0.6 km from the Silver Lake boundary.
How is the air quality in Silver Lake?+
Silver Lake has below the California median for diesel PM exposure, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 49 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Silver Lake?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Silver Lake are Studio City, Eagle Rock, South Pasadena and Arcadia.
How many apartments are available in Silver Lake?+
Saktoo currently tracks 49 active listings in Silver Lake, starting at $1,295 per month.