Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Vernon
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Vernon
Rent control: Vernonhas no local rent-stabilization ordinance we track, so California's statewide cap (AB 1482) is the main protection. It limits annual increases on most buildings at least 15 years old, with exemptions. Verify a building's status before signing.
General information, not legal advice.
How Vernon scores for you
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Vernon is a city of just 222 people located five miles south of downtown Los Angeles, making it one of the smallest incorporated cities in California. Despite its tiny residential population, Vernon is primarily an industrial and commercial hub, home to numerous manufacturing plants, warehouses, and distribution centers that serve the greater Los Angeles region.
The city occupies a strategic location in the LA metro area, positioned between downtown and Long Beach. Because Vernon functions mainly as a working city rather than a residential destination, housing options are extremely limited and the character of daily life is defined by industrial activity rather than community amenities or neighborhood culture.
Living here
Living in Vernon means residing in a place fundamentally shaped by industry and commerce. The city has minimal residential infrastructure, with very few apartments, limited walkable amenities, and no nearby public transit options. Most people who work in Vernon do not live there, and those considering a move here should understand that the city offers almost none of the neighborhood conveniences or social fabric typical of residential areas in Southern California.
Daily life in Vernon revolves around proximity to industrial and logistics work. There are a handful of restaurants and a gym within a short walk, but grocery stores and parks are not available nearby. You will need a car for most activities, and the industrial character means the area is not designed around residential life or leisure.
Who it's for
Vernon is not a practical residential choice for most renters. It is suited only to people with specific industrial employment or logistics work in the city and who prioritize an extremely short commute over neighborhood quality of life, amenities, or community. Even then, the scarcity of housing stock makes finding an apartment here difficult. Most people seeking to live in the Los Angeles area should consider nearby residential cities with actual housing markets and community infrastructure.
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: moderate traffic exposure, below the state median.
Traffic proximity here is better than average for California.
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.
Schools in Vernon
1 public school sit inside this area · 1 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon City Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 60% | 60% |
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 Vernon
Starbucks
Joe K's · McDonald's · Subway · Yoshinoya
LA Fitness
Check your commute from Vernon
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Similar neighborhoods
Next to Vernon
What the census says about Vernon
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Vernon; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 34 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 81%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1953
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 24%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 2%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 86%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 37%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 2 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 1,645
- total housing units
Averaged across 4 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Vernon in the regional index
How Vernon places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- The areas with no affordable escape from pollution
Ranks #5 of 262 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where home prices go furthest
Ranks #16 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where rent goes furthest
Ranks #22 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Vernon
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Frequently asked questions
Does Vernon have public transit?+
No rail stations serve Vernon, and the city has minimal public transit options. You will need a car to get around and to reach most destinations outside the city.
What amenities does Vernon have?+
Vernon ranks 360th of 371 comparable areas for amenities. Within a short walk you can find about one coffee shop and one gym, plus a few casual restaurants, but grocery stores and parks are not available nearby.
Is Vernon a good place to live?+
Vernon is not designed as a residential city and ranks in the bottom 19th percentile overall for livability in the region. It is primarily industrial and lacks the housing stock, walkability, and community amenities that most renters expect. Consider nearby residential cities instead.
How many people live in Vernon?+
Vernon had a population of just 222 at the 2020 census, making it the second least populous city in California. It is almost entirely industrial, with virtually no residential neighborhoods.
Is Vernon walkable?+
Vernon ranks #95 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
What is the average rent in Vernon?+
Current residents of Vernon pay a median rent of about $1,322 per month (Census ACS). Asking rents for new leases typically run higher.
How is the air quality in Vernon?+
Vernon has high diesel PM exposure, top quartile in California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 87 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Vernon?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Vernon are Lennox, El Monte, Wilmington and South El Monte.