Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Westlake
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Westlake
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 Westlake scores for you
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Westlake is a dense, urban neighborhood in Central Los Angeles with roots in 1920s development. The area features a mix of converted historic mansions now subdivided into apartments alongside newer multi-unit buildings, giving it a distinctly mixed residential character. It sits in the heart of the city, close to downtown and MacArthur Park.
The neighborhood ranks in the top 3 percent of LA's 114 neighborhoods by overall livability, driven largely by exceptional transit access and walkability. Multiple Metro lines serve the area, and most daily errands can be accomplished on foot or by transit. However, air quality ranks poorly due to diesel PM exposure, and tree cover is minimal.
Living here
Day-to-day life in Westlake is urban and convenient. Within a short walk you'll find about 6 restaurants, coffee options, grocery stores like Food 4 Less and Northgate Market, and parks including MacArthur Park and Lafayette Recreation Center. The Westlake / MacArthur Park Station (Metro B and D Lines) is right in the neighborhood, with Wilshire / Vermont and multiple downtown stations nearby, making car-free living realistic for transit-dependent routines.
The tradeoff is environmental exposure. The area experiences above-average traffic and sits in the 86th percentile for diesel PM pollution, among the highest in California. Tree cover is limited at about 1.7 percent, so summers feel hot and concrete-heavy. These are real conditions that many residents accept in exchange for walkability and transit proximity, but they're worth factoring into your decision.
Who it's for
Westlake suits renters who prioritize transit access and walkable urban living over space, quiet, or environmental conditions. It's ideal for those without a car or who want to minimize driving. Current median asking rent for a new lease is about 2,289 per month, which ranks 22nd of 114 LA neighborhoods (neither cheap nor expensive). The area works well for young professionals, students, and anyone committed to urban transit-oriented life despite air quality and heat concerns.
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 Westlake, 5 more nearby.
Who lives in Westlake
Population
88,285
Renters
95%
of households rent
Median age
35
Median income
$49k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Westlake
24 public schools sit inside this area · 22 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camino Nuevo Charter AcademyCharter Elementary | K-8 | 35% | 36% |
| Charles White Elementary Elementary | 1-5 | 45% | 50% |
| Citizens of the World Charter School Silver LakeCharter Elementary | K-8 | 44% | 37% |
| Esperanza Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 33% | 31% |
| Gratts Learning Academy for Young Scholars (GLAYS) Elementary | K-5 | 27% | 24% |
| Hoover Street Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 70% | 67% |
| Lafayette Park Primary Center Elementary | K | — | — |
| Lake Street Primary Elementary | K-1 | — | — |
| MacArthur Park Elementary School for the Visual and Performing Arts Elementary | K-5 | 27% | 26% |
| N.E.W. Academy of Science and ArtsCharter Elementary | K-5 | 43% | 34% |
| Rosemont Avenue Elementary Elementary | 2-5 | 35% | 35% |
| Union Avenue Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 37% | 31% |
| Equitas Academy #2Charter Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 5-8 | 40% | 28% |
| John H. Liechty Middle Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 24% | 17% |
| Rise Kohyang MiddleCharter Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 49% | 33% |
| Sal Castro Middle Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 34% | 21% |
| Vista Charter MiddleCharter Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 35% | 18% |
| Alliance Ted K. Tajima HighCharter High School | 9-12 | 86% | 32% |
| Belmont Senior High High School | 9-12 | 34% | 9% |
| Contreras Learning Center-Academic Leadership Community High School | 9-12 | 48% | 18% |
| Contreras Learning Center-Los Angeles School of Global Studies High School | 9-12 | 49% | 22% |
| Contreras Learning Center-School of Social Justice High School | 9-12 | 37% | 10% |
| Equitas Collegiate HighCharter High School | 9-12 | 32% | 18% |
| Los Angeles Academy of Arts and EnterpriseCharter Elementary-High Combination | 6-12 | 18% | 2% |
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 Westlake
El C Lollo Meat Market · Food 4 Less · Grocery Outlet · Northgate Market
Alchemist Coffee Project · Starbucks · Vees Cafe
Amar Desh Indian Restaurant · Asian Box · Atitlan Express · Boba Time
Hope and Peace Park · Lafayette Recreation Center · Lake Street Park · MacArthur Park
Orangetheory Fitness
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Similar neighborhoods
South Park
~$2,490/mo
#56 of 346 for walkability
Arlington Heights
~$2,672/mo
#103 of 346 for walkability
Pico-Union
~$2,142/mo
#28 of 346 for walkability
Central-Alameda
~$2,655/mo
#115 of 346 for walkability
Next to Westlake
What the census says about Westlake
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Westlake; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 37 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 64%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1962
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 33%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 7%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 82%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 8%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 1 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 6,077
- total housing units
Averaged across 9 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Westlake in the regional index
How Westlake places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Cheap rent without needing a car
Ranks #3 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Plenty nearby, easy to get around
Ranks #3 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where rent goes furthest
Ranks #4 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Westlake
Found a place you like? Score it against your priorities to see how well any address fits your budget and commute.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car in Westlake?+
Not necessarily. The neighborhood has multiple Metro stations (B, D, A, and E Lines within walking distance) and is ranked 26th of 114 for transit access. Many errands are walkable, though a car reduces friction for trips outside the immediate area and the dense urban core.
What's the air quality like?+
Westlake ranks 102nd of 114 for air quality and sits in the 86th percentile for diesel PM pollution, among the worst in California. This is driven by proximity to major traffic corridors. Anyone sensitive to air quality should seriously consider neighborhoods further from central traffic hubs.
How much is rent and what does it include?+
New leases average about 2,289 per month (as of May 2026), with studios around 1,226 and one-bedrooms around 1,486. Rent has been flat year-over-year. Current residents pay a lower median of 1,481 because that includes long-term and rent-controlled tenants; budget from the asking rent if you're moving in now.
What's tree cover and heat like?+
Tree canopy is only about 1.7 percent of the neighborhood, ranking 88th of 114. The area is predominantly concrete and feels hot, especially in summer. If shade and greenery matter to you, look at neighborhoods with 4-8 percent canopy coverage.
Is Westlake walkable?+
Westlake ranks #63 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
What is the average rent in Westlake?+
A new lease in Westlake typically asks around $2,289 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $1,481 (Census ACS), which includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants, so expect asking prices closer to the first number. Among 88 current listings on Saktoo, the median asking rent is $2,012.
Does Westlake have Metro rail access?+
Yes. Westlake has 1 Metro rail station within its boundary (Westlake / MacArthur Park), served by the Metro A Line, Metro B Line, Metro D Line, Metro E Line.
How is the air quality in Westlake?+
Westlake has high diesel PM exposure, top quartile in California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 86 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Westlake?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Westlake are South Park, Arlington Heights, Pico-Union and Central-Alameda.
How many apartments are available in Westlake?+
Saktoo currently tracks 88 active listings in Westlake, starting at $780 per month.