Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Vermont Vista
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Vermont 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 Vermont Vista scores for you
Checking your quiz profile…
Score Vermont Vista your way
Drag a slider to say how much each thing matters to you. The score updates live.
Want the real thing? Take the full quiz to factor in your budget and commute and rank Vermont Vista against every neighborhood.
Vermont Vista is a South Los Angeles neighborhood defined by its urban character and position along a major transit corridor. It sits within the Metro C Line service area, giving residents direct rail access downtown and to the harbor. The neighborhood has a working-class feel with modest housing stock and streetscapes shaped by commercial and industrial activity.
Living here
Day-to-day life in Vermont Vista revolves around nearby essentials. You will find about one grocery store and two restaurants within a short walk, though the selection is limited compared to other LA neighborhoods. The Metro C Line stations at Vermont/Athens and Harbor Freeway sit right at the neighborhood boundary, making them convenient for commuters without a car. Walkability is moderate for errands, but the area ranks in the bottom quartile for tree cover (about 40%) and sits in a high-traffic corridor, so plan on seeing and hearing vehicle traffic regularly.
The neighborhood faces significant environmental pressures. Air quality ranks 108th out of 114 LA neighborhoods due to diesel particulate matter exposure, and traffic congestion ranks 111th, reflecting the heavy commercial and freeway-adjacent use of the area. These are real tradeoffs to consider if you are sensitive to air quality or noise. On the positive side, rent is genuinely affordable compared to the LA average: new leases run about $2,485, which is significantly lower than the median asking rent of $2,016 across LA.
Who it's for
Vermont Vista works best for renters prioritizing affordability and direct transit access over amenities and air quality. If you work downtown or along the C Line corridor and want to avoid car ownership, the Metro stations make this practical. It suits budget-conscious renters who can tolerate industrial surroundings, traffic noise, and above-average air pollution. This is not the neighborhood for those seeking walkable neighborhoods with parks, tree cover, and low pollution.
Environment & livability
Air quality: high diesel PM exposure, top quartile in California.
Linked to elevated respiratory and cardiovascular risk in long-term residents. See the air quality flag for more detail.
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.
Metro rail
2 stations inside Vermont Vista, none further out worth noting.
Who lives in Vermont Vista
Population
21,639
Renters
58%
of households rent
Median age
32
Median income
$60k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Vermont Vista
10 public schools sit inside this area · 8 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles W. Barrett Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 27% | 24% |
| Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., Primary Center Elementary | K | — | — |
| Figueroa Street Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 46% | 48% |
| Manchester Avenue Elementary Elementary | 1-6 | 34% | 23% |
| Ninety-Fifth Street Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 34% | 31% |
| Washington Primary Center Elementary | K-2 | — | — |
| Watts Learning CenterCharter Elementary | K-5 | 39% | 36% |
| West Athens Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 23% | 23% |
| Bret Harte Preparatory Middle Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 20% | 11% |
| Ednovate - South LA College PrepCharter High School | 9-12 | 51% | 13% |
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 Vista
Ralphs
Church's Chicken · Domino's · Jack in the Box · Pizza Hut
Algin Sutton Recreation Center
Check your commute from Vermont Vista
Enter your work (or any) address for real travel times from this neighborhood.
Similar neighborhoods
Broadway-Manchester
~$2,545/mo
#85 of 346 for walkability
East Los Angeles
#94 of 346 for walkability
Adams-Normandie
~$2,289/mo
#27 of 346 for walkability
Lennox
#139 of 346 for walkability
Next to Vermont Vista
What the census says about Vermont Vista
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Vermont Vista; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 38 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 79%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1960
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 20%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 4%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 89%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 43%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 2 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 2,768
- total housing units
Averaged across 6 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Vermont Vista in the regional index
How Vermont Vista places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Where rent goes furthest
Ranks #40 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where home prices go furthest
Ranks #43 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Cheap rent without needing a car
Ranks #66 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Vermont Vista
Found a place you like? Score it against your priorities to see how well any address fits your budget and commute.
Frequently asked questions
What is the rent here?+
New leases average about $2,485, which is lower than the LA average of $2,016. Current residents pay a median of $1,362 due to rent-stabilized and long-term tenancies, but that does not reflect what you will actually pay as a new renter.
Do I need a car?+
Not for commuting if you use the Metro C Line (Vermont/Athens and Harbor Freeway stations are in the neighborhood), but walkability for daily errands is only moderate. A car makes getting around easier but is not required if you are near transit and willing to walk or take transit for shopping and dining.
How is the air quality?+
Vermont Vista ranks 108th of 114 LA neighborhoods for air quality, with high diesel particulate matter exposure from traffic and freight activity. If air quality is a health concern for you or your family, this is not the best fit.
What are the main amenities nearby?+
Within a short walk you will find about one grocery store (Ralphs), two restaurants, and one park (Algin Sutton Recreation Center). The selection is limited compared to other LA neighborhoods, so plan to travel for dining and recreation options.
Is Vermont Vista walkable?+
Vermont Vista ranks #99 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
What is the average rent in Vermont Vista?+
A new lease in Vermont Vista typically asks around $2,485 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $1,362 (Census ACS), which includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants, so expect asking prices closer to the first number.
Does Vermont Vista have Metro rail access?+
Yes. Vermont Vista has 2 Metro rail stations within its boundary (Vermont / Athens, Harbor Freeway), served by the Metro C Line.
How is the air quality in Vermont Vista?+
Vermont Vista has high diesel PM exposure, top quartile in California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 91 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Vermont Vista?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Vermont Vista are Broadway-Manchester, East Los Angeles, Adams-Normandie and Lennox.