The 7 Safest Neighborhoods in Los Angeles

As one of the most prominent cities in the entertainment, fashion, music, and arts scenes, Los Angeles is home to a diverse culture and lots of employment opportunities — not to mention year-round beautiful weather — among many other perks. The L.A. lifestyle is best described as laid back and health-oriented, with a large focus on the outdoors.

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Unfortunately, the city doesn’t have such a glowing review of its crime statistics. In fact, L.A. is safer than only seven percent of neighborhoods in the U.S., and 91 percent of other communities within California have lower crime rates. Your chances of becoming a victim of either property or violent crime is 1 in 28, with a crime rate of approximately 36 per 1,000 residents. 

When comparing Los Angeles to other major cities across the country, however, you’ll find other areas with higher crime rates. For example, both NYC and Chicago are safer than only six percent of other U.S. neighborhoods. A person’s chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in NYC is 1 in 26, while it’s 1 in 27 in Chicago.

So where would you feel comfortable living in the L.A. area? Here are our picks for the 7 safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

Safest Places to Live in Los Angeles — FAQs

Q: Which area of Los Angeles is the safest?
A: Of the neighborhoods we discuss, Cheviot Hills — situated near the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) — and Pacific Palisades are going to be the safest.

Q: Is Bel Air safer than Beverly Hills?
A: Bel Air is safer than many of the other communities in Los Angeles, including Beverly Hills. 

Q: Where is the safest place to live?
A: Areas in Los Angeles near Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and UCLA are usually considered safe. 

Q: Where is the safest place to live in Southern California?
A: Sherman Oaks is one of the safest neighborhoods to settle down in the Southern California area. 

Q: Is downtown L.A. safe at night?
A: Downtown L.A. is typically safe at night, as long as you stay close to well-lit and populated areas. The more people with or around you, the better!

7 Safest Neighborhoods in Los Angeles

While the crime rates in Los Angeles might seem worrisome, there are still plenty of vibrant and safe neighborhoods surrounding the city. With low crime rates, strong public school systems, great access to healthcare, and lots of things to do nearby, here are our top choices for the safest neighborhoods in L.A. 

Beverlywood in Los Angeles, CA 
Source: The Raskin Group

1. Beverlywood

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $2,725
• Average home price: $2.13M
• Great for: Shopping, dining, outdoor recreation, families

The neighborhood of Beverlywood is one of the safest areas to live in Los Angeles for families, as it’s ranked as the #1 best neighborhood to raise a family in L.A., according to Niche. Just a few blocks away from Beverly Hills, Beverlywood became its own planned community in 1940. The neighborhood has since transformed into a lovely residential area with lots to do as far as dining, shopping, and entertainment are concerned.

Beverlywood is in close proximity to the city’s best shopping experiences, including Westfield Century City, which is a mall full of just about every shop you could ask for. You can also explore South Beverly Drive, which is another area full of shops and places to eat. When looking for something fun to do outdoors, you can visit Irving Schachter Park, which is a great spot for the family to get some fresh air and stay active. 

Beverlywood is an L.A. neighborhood that has some of the lowest crime rates in the area, as crime reports have shown approximately 22 per 1,000 instances in recent years. Top-ranked public schools are also nearby and include Larchmont Charter School and Renaissance Arts Academy. 

2. Pacific Palisades

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $3,000
• Average home price: $3.53M
• Great for: Picturesque canyon and beach views, shopping, dining, beautiful homes

As one of the safest places to live in Los Angeles, the upscale neighborhood of Pacific Palisades is ideal for any walk of life, with its beautiful canyon views and close access to the beach. Head to Will Rogers State Beach and soak in the sun, or head to Palisades Village and do some shopping after grabbing a bite at a top-rated restaurant like Blue Ribbon Sushi. 

With modern styles of predominantly Spanish and Mediterranean architectural options, the houses in Pacific Palisades are made with custom pieces of glass and steel that are designed by renowned architects. These homes offer cityscapes that are hard to beat and ocean views that are hard to look away from! 

Pacific Palisades also has crime rates lower than the majority of other neighborhoods in Los Angeles, with crimes estimated at approximately 27 per 1,000 in recent years. And with access to top-rated public schools nearby, Pacific Palisades is certainly ideal for families. 

3. Rancho Park

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $3,050
• Median home sale price: $1.84M
• Great for: Commuters, outdoor recreation, golfing, shopping, dining, young professionals

You pretty much have everything right at your fingertips while living in Rancho Park. This neighborhood is most ideal for young professionals, as there are plenty of ways to dine, shop, and stay active outdoors, along with easy access to the 10 and 405 freeways for commuting. 

The Rancho Park Golf Course stays active all year, features a nine-hole par 3 course, and has even hosted 18 Los Angeles Open tournaments. If golfing isn’t really your thing, though, you can also head to the local Palms Park and shoot some hoops at the basketball courts. Similar to Beverlywood, Rancho Park is also in close proximity to the Westfield Century City Mall and unique dining options, such as Bossa Nova Brazilian Cuisine. 

Encino in Los Angeles, CA
Source: JGKlein via Wikipedia

4. Encino

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $2,325
• Average home price: $1.4M
• Great for: Outdoor recreation, dog owners, shopping, dining

At the foot of the Santa Monica Mountains lies the historic neighborhood of Encino, an upper middle class area that’s also one of the oldest areas to settle down in the valley.

Aside from shopping and grabbing a bite to eat on Ventura Blvd., residents have easy access to nature. Check out Los Encinos State Historic Park, for example, or the Sepulveda Basin Dog Park, where your dogs can run off-leash to stay active. 

Encino also boasts a number of top-notch eateries, and the Encino Family Festival is the a can’t-miss if you want to sample some of the best local restaurants in the community. If you’re in the mood for more of a diverse cuisine, for example, Sadaf serves up some delicious kebabs. 

5. Sawtelle 

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $3,075
• Average home price: $1.07M
• Great for: Japanese culture, shopping, dining, young professionals

Also referred to as “Sawtelle Japantown,” due to its history as an arrival spot for Japanese-Americans in the 1890s, the neighborhood of Sawtelle is one of the trendiest spots for young professionals to settle down in L.A. This Los Angeles neighborhood offers more affordable homes and apartments than many other local neighborhoods, and it’s in close proximity to fabulous restaurants and places to shop. With a lower than average crime rate, Sawtelle is also one of the safest places in Los Angeles.

If you’re looking to do some high-end shopping, you can head to Brentwood Place, which has just about everything you need, from designer stores to a variety of gourmet dining options. You can also check out local boutiques, like Black Market and fun stores such as the Giant Robot Store. And for a scrumptious bite to eat, you can explore amazing food options around the community like Chinchikurin and Churros Calientes. 

6. Sherman Oaks

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $2,175
• Median home sale price: $1.34M
• Great for: Shopping, dining, young professionals

Sherman Oaks isn’t just one of the safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles — it boasts some of the very best amenities. This neighborhood provides more of a quiet and laid-back atmosphere, ideal for young professionals, and shopping and dining options are plentiful. 

If you consider yourself a shopaholic, for example, you’ll never get bored of places to explore in Sherman Oaks, as there are several places to check out locally, from high-end stores to smaller boutiques. For high-end shopping, check out the Sherman Oaks Galleria, and for smaller, independent shops and restaurants, you can’t miss Ventura Blvd.

Cheviot Hills in Los Angeles, CA 
Source: True Story Reality

7. Cheviot Hills

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $3,050
• Average home price: $2.31M
• Great for: Outdoor recreation, culture/sporting events, golfing, families, retirees

Ranking as the second best neighborhood to raise a family in L.A., according to Niche, Cheviot Hills is one of the safest places to live in Los Angeles that offers more of a laid-back lifestyle on the west side of the city. Outdoor recreation is a popular pastime of most members of the community, and facilities such as the Cheviot Hills Recreation Center are especially ideal for families. And since it’s situated close to UCLA, families can attend lots of cultural and sporting events nearby, as well. 

Retirees can also find solace while living in Cheviot Hills. It’s quiet and peaceful, and there are plenty of golf courses to choose from, including the Hillcrest Country Club and Rancho Park Golf Course. 

The best part? Most property and violent crimes in Cheviot Hills are lower than the national average. 

Move to One of the Safest Neighborhoods in Los Angeles With PODS

After you’ve found your safe haven in one of L.A.’s top neighborhoods, it’s time to figure out the moving process. PODS offers its very own specialized City Service, where you get to pack your belongings in a portable moving container that will be taken to your new residence. And by using the services of PODS, you won’t have to deal with traffic, parking, and other hassles that come with moving in a big city. 

Editor’s note: For ease of reading, monthly rental prices were rounded to the nearest $25 and home values were rounded to the nearest $100.