Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Watts
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Watts
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 Watts scores for you
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Watts is a southern Los Angeles neighborhood known for the iconic Watts Towers of Simon Rodia, a striking 99-foot art installation that defines the area's cultural identity. Bordered by Lynwood, Huntington Park, and South Gate, Watts sits squarely in the working-class heart of South Los Angeles, with a strong community presence and deep roots in local art and culture.
The neighborhood ranks 43rd out of 114 LA neighborhoods for walkability, making some errands doable on foot, though a car becomes useful for shopping and other trips. Transit access is limited, with the Metro A Line serving the area at the 103rd Street/Watts Towers station and the nearby Willowbrook-Rosa Parks station (shared with the C Line), but service frequencies and coverage mean most residents rely on personal transportation.
Living here
Day-to-day life in Watts centers around local institutions and a tight-knit community. You will find about three restaurants and one grocery store within a short walk, along with a couple of parks, including the Watts Towers Arts Center and nearby recreation facilities. The neighborhood ranks 58th for amenity density among LA's neighborhoods, so you will rely on the car for many errands like dining variety or fitness options.
Air quality is a significant concern; Watts ranks 94th out of 114 neighborhoods for particle pollution exposure, reflecting its position near freight corridors and industrial zones. Traffic is above average (43rd out of 114), and tree canopy is minimal at 1.2 percent, giving the area a predominantly concrete character. These are real tradeoffs of the location, but they contribute to Watts being by far the most affordable neighborhood measured, with new leases averaging about $2,550, versus over $2,000 across LA.
Who it's for
Watts suits budget-conscious renters who prioritize affordability over amenity abundance or air quality, and who have reliable access to a car. It works well for those with ties to South LA, connections to jobs near the Metro A Line corridor, or a willingness to trade some environmental factors for the neighborhood's cultural character and lowest-in-LA rent prices. It is not ideal for residents sensitive to air pollution, those without a car, or renters seeking high walkability or dense dining and recreation options.
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: 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: 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
1 station inside Watts, 4 more nearby.
Who lives in Watts
Population
28,903
Renters
72%
of households rent
Median age
28
Median income
$42k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Watts
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compton Avenue Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 36% | 39% |
| Florence Griffith Joyner Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 24% | 21% |
| Grape Street Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 31% | 31% |
| Lovelia P. Flournoy Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 16% | 11% |
| One Hundred Twelfth Street Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 32% | 33% |
| Edwin Markham Middle Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 18% | 13% |
| KIPP Philosophers AcademyCharter Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 5-8 | 23% | 12% |
| Alliance Cindy and Bill Simon Technology Academy HighCharter High School | 9-12 | 46% | 11% |
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 Watts
Food 4 Less
Burger King · Little Caesars · LocoL · Popeyes
Century Gateway Park · Freedom Tree Park · Grape Street Park · One Hundred Ninth Street Recreation Center
Check your commute from Watts
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Similar neighborhoods
Next to Watts
What the census says about Watts
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Watts; 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
- ~1962
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 18%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 3%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 74%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 39%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 2 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 2,817
- total housing units
Averaged across 6 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Watts in the regional index
How Watts places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Where home prices go furthest
Ranks #4 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where rent goes furthest
Ranks #5 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Cheap rent without needing a car
Ranks #16 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Watts
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Frequently asked questions
How affordable is Watts compared to the rest of LA?+
Watts ranks 1st out of 114 LA neighborhoods for affordability. New leases average about $2,550, roughly $550 less than the LA median of $2,016 for current residents across all neighborhoods. Even compared to its closest affordable peers like Wilmington and Boyle Heights, Watts offers the lowest asking rent.
Is public transit reliable enough to skip a car?+
No. Watts ranks 71st out of 114 for transit access, and the Metro A and C lines alone do not provide frequent or comprehensive coverage for most daily trips. You should plan to own or regularly access a car for work, shopping, and other errands.
What is the air quality like in Watts?+
Watts ranks 94th out of 114 neighborhoods for air quality, with high diesel particle pollution exposure due to proximity to freight corridors and industrial zones. This is a significant environmental factor and a real tradeoff of living here; people sensitive to pollution should carefully consider this before moving.
What is there to do in Watts?+
The Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park and Watts Towers Arts Center are the neighborhood's cultural anchors and worth visiting. Local parks include the 109th Street Recreation Center and Grape Street Park. For dining and shopping, options are modest within walking distance, so you will typically drive to other areas for variety.
Is Watts walkable?+
Watts ranks #66 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
What is the average rent in Watts?+
A new lease in Watts typically asks around $2,550 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $944 (Census ACS), which includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants, so expect asking prices closer to the first number.
Does Watts have Metro rail access?+
Yes. Watts has 1 Metro rail station within its boundary (103rd Street / Watts Towers ), served by the Metro A Line, Metro C Line.
How is the air quality in Watts?+
Watts has high diesel PM exposure, top quartile in California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 78 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Watts?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Watts are Willowbrook, West Rancho Dominguez, Citrus and Lake Elsinore.