Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Vermont Knolls
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Vermont Knolls
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 Vermont Knolls scores for you
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Vermont Knolls is a residential neighborhood in South Los Angeles with a dense, walkable urban character. The area is primarily residential with local commercial corridors that serve the community's day-to-day needs.
The neighborhood sits in an established urban environment where you can handle many errands on foot, though a car remains useful for some trips. Vermont Knolls ranks 46th for walkability out of 114 LA neighborhoods, slightly above the LA median, making it moderately pedestrian-friendly compared to more sprawling parts of the city.
Living here
Daily life in Vermont Knolls centers on the local commercial strips and residential blocks that make up the neighborhood. Within a short walk you'll find about 2 restaurants, 1 grocery store, and 1 park. The area is denser than average for LA (about 1.8 times the LA median density), which supports a neighborhood feel with people on the street.
Traffic and air quality are notable tradeoffs here. Vermont Knolls ranks 92nd for traffic exposure and 85th for air quality out of 114 neighborhoods, meaning you'll notice heavier congestion and higher diesel PM pollution than most of LA. Tree cover is sparse at 0.3 percent, ranking 112th, so the streetscape is predominantly concrete. A car is essential for most residents, and the high-traffic environment means you should expect congestion on main corridors.
Who it's for
Vermont Knolls works best for renters prioritizing affordability and urban convenience over environmental quality. If you can tolerate traffic noise, lower air quality, and a car-dependent lifestyle in exchange for being in a walkable, compact neighborhood with reasonable rents, this area offers value. It's less suitable if you're sensitive to pollution, need extensive public transit, or want significant green space nearby.
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: high traffic corridor exposure.
This area is near major traffic corridors, linked to higher noise levels, diesel PM, and reduced street-level comfort.
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 Vermont Knolls
Population
23,698
Renters
78%
of households rent
Median age
31
Median income
$46k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Vermont Knolls
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIPP Empower AcademyCharter Elementary | K-4 | 33% | 43% |
| Vox Collegiate of Los AngelesCharter Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 38% | 26% |
| Alliance Piera Barbaglia Shaheen Health Services AcademyCharter High School | 9-12 | 34% | 12% |
| The SEED School of Los Angeles CountyCharter High School | 9-11 | 42% | 15% |
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 Vermont Knolls
El Super
Church's Chicken · Tom's Jr. Burger · Winchell's Donut House · Wingstop
Mount Carmel Recreation Center
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Similar neighborhoods
Florence
~$2,565/mo
#108 of 346 for walkability
Arlington Heights
~$2,672/mo
#103 of 346 for walkability
South Park
~$2,490/mo
#56 of 346 for walkability
Broadway-Manchester
~$2,545/mo
#85 of 346 for walkability
Next to Vermont Knolls
What the census says about Vermont Knolls
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Vermont Knolls; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 39 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 79%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1955
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 17%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 7%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 86%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 44%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 3 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 1,681
- total housing units
Averaged across 3 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Vermont Knolls in the regional index
How Vermont Knolls places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Where home prices go furthest
Ranks #9 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Cheap rent without needing a car
Ranks #35 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where rent goes furthest
Ranks #36 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Vermont Knolls
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Frequently asked questions
Is Vermont Knolls walkable?+
Yes, moderately so. You can handle many errands on foot, though you'll want a car for some trips. The neighborhood ranks 46th for walkability out of 114 LA neighborhoods, slightly above average for the city.
What's the transit situation?+
Public transit access is minimal. Vermont Knolls has no nearby Metro rail stations and ranks 72nd for transit access out of 114 neighborhoods. A car is strongly recommended for getting around.
How much is rent?+
New leases average $2,470 per month as of May 2026, up 2.2 percent year-over-year. This ranks 21st for affordability out of 114 neighborhoods. Current residents pay a median of $1,478, but that reflects long-term and stabilized tenants; budget from the asking rent if you're moving in.
What about air quality and traffic?+
Both are concerns. Vermont Knolls ranks 92nd for traffic exposure and 85th for air quality out of 114 neighborhoods, meaning higher congestion and diesel PM pollution than most of LA. If you're sensitive to these issues, consider neighborhoods ranked higher (lower numbers) on these metrics.
What is the average rent in Vermont Knolls?+
A new lease in Vermont Knolls typically asks around $2,470 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $1,478 (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 Vermont Knolls?+
Vermont Knolls has moderate diesel PM exposure for California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 73 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Vermont Knolls?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Vermont Knolls are Florence, Arlington Heights, South Park and Broadway-Manchester.