Best Neighborhoods for Singles and Young Professionals in L.A.

Last Updated on August 23, 2024

By Graci Woodworth, Storage.com

Finding your place in this world can be pretty difficult, not to mention how hard it can be to move there. Storage.com is here to help with the moving process, either by providing storage or helping you find the ideal place to call home.

Los Angeles entrances singles and young professionals from all over the world to make a name and a living for themselves in the sunny city. As you already know, living in the mecca of the entertainment industry isn’t a bargain by any means—in fact, it’s far from. So where are all of the singles and young professionals migrating to rent in the City of Angels? Take a look at our list of the best neighborhoods below.

1. SILVER LAKE

Quick Facts:

• Population: 42,903
• Median Rental Rate: $1,169
• Crime Rate: 36% lower than L.A. average
• Unemployment Rate: 6.5%
• Walk Score: 75

Previously rated by Forbes as the number one spot of “America’s Best Hipster Neighborhoods” (if that’s your thing), the neighborhood of Silver Lake is built around a reservoir in central northeastern L.A . This neighborhood is often referred to as “Williamsburg of the West,” because the area is similarly packed with independent shops and cafes, food trucks, and a contagious alternative and indie rock music scene. A wide selection of California craft beers are calling your name from Mohawk Bend, while Lamill Coffee can fuel your morning java addiction.

With a median rental rate of $1,169 per month, Silver Lake is arguably one of the more affordable neighborhoods in Los Angeles (remember, we’re still talking about Los Angeles here). While a number of its residents commute to other areas of L.A. for work, the neighborhood’s eclectic atmosphere tends to draw in all walks of freelance artists and creatives, too.

2. WEST HOLLYWOOD

Quick Facts:

• Population: 34,572
• Median Rental Rate: $1,318
• Average Commute Time of Residents: 26 minutes
• Unemployment Rate: 6.6%
• Percentage of Residents Married: 26%
• Walk Score: 89

West Hollywood, otherwise known as “WeHo” is a western L.A. neighborhood located between Hollywood and Beverly Hills. The neighborhood is buzzing with young professionals, and is a gold mine for networking and meeting new people—not to mention only 26% of residents are married (we’re looking at you, singles). Although it’s not uncommon to be a resident of WeHo and commute elsewhere in the city for work, some of the area’s top employers include CityGrid Media, the Metro, and House of Blues.

Home to the flashy Sunset Strip, West Hollywood was made for entertainment— literally. Stop in at The Griddle Cafe for a tasty red velvet and buttermilk pancake, test your luck with celebrity spotting at The Ivy, or catch a live band at the world famous Whiskey a Go Go. The Pacific Design Center and the West Hollywood Design District are also a couple of the neighborhood’s most notable spots.

Sound too good to be true? It is—well, sort of. The popularity of the area means it also touts a high cost of living, so residing in this neighborhood will cost you a pretty penny.

3. LOS FELIZ

Quick Facts:

• Population: 31,749
• Median Rental Rate: $1,410
• Unemployment Rate: 7.4%
• Crime Rate: 59% lower than L.A. average
• Walk Score (Camero Avenue): 76

Near Silver Lake, Los Feliz is another L.A. neighborhood that is fairly light on tourism, with rental options that can give you a little more space for your buck, relative to the area. If you’re looking to find more of that neighborhood feel amid the rush, this is your place. Los Feliz is located at the southern tip of Griffith Park, which holds some of the area’s best hiking and horseback riding trails right along the eastern Santa Monica Mountain range. Locals of this area are also just a short trip away from the Griffith Observatory, the Los Angeles Zoo, and Greek Theatre.

The Prospect Studios (or more importantly, where Grey’s Anatomy is produced) operate out of this neighborhood, but many dwellers of central L.A. make the daily commute to Burbank, where you’ll find the headquarters of major names in the entertainment industry, such as Disney, Warner Bros. Entertainment, ABC Studios, and many more.

Hungry? Flore Vegan flaunts a extensive menu with both gluten-free and vegan options, and you can count on the diner food at Fred 62 24-hours a day. Besides, Ryan Gosling is a current resident— what more could you ask for in a neighborhood?

4. VENICE

Quick Facts:

• Population: 32,922
• Median Rental Rate: $1,666
• Crime Rate: 59% lower than L.A. average
• Unemployment Rate: 6.5%
• Walk Score: 79

The seaside neighborhood of Venice has much more to offer its residents than the beautiful beach you’ve seen in the movies (although, that’s a great perk too). Situated in the L.A. Westside, this area is majorly residential, characterized by narrow streets, canals, and recreational beachfront. Note, patience is a virtue in Venice, as the quaint layout wasn’t exactly built for the L.A. traffic congestion it receives. Venice is also one of the Westside neighborhoods to make up Silicon Beach, the L.A. tech and startup community that houses more than 500 tech startups (like Snapchat, Truecar, and Hulu to name a few).

When you’re not brunching at Gjelina, or trying a specialty burger on the patio at 26 Beach, pedal the Venice Beach Boardwalk for ocean views and lively entertainment.

Have any other recommendations for the best neighborhoods for young professionals in Los Angeles? Let us know in the comments section!

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If you’re moving to Los Angeles and need storage space to help with the transition, view Storage.com’s directory for self storage in Los Angeles.

All images have either been provided by a listed organization or are licensed under the Creative Commons.

All quick facts were provided by Areavibes.com and Walkscore.com.