Did you know that around half of the population in LA has never been married before? If you’re a young professional planning on moving to Los Angeles, you’re probably wondering what the best places to live in Los Angeles for singles are. We’re here to help – we’ve compiled a list of some of the best areas to choose from for those who are moving to Los Angeles alone.
There’s much more to choosing your future location than just pointing to a spot on the map. There are many things you should take into consideration, such as the cost of living in different neighborhoods, housing prices, job opportunities, proximity to amenities and your new workplace, and compatibility with your lifestyle, preferences, and financial situation.
Explore Hancock Park – One of the Best Places to Live in Los Angeles for Singles (and Everyone Else)
If you like being in the very center of all the action, Hancock Park is the place for you. Located between Beverly Hills and Downtown, this community provides easy access to pretty much every corner of LA. Of course, this also means that if you want to ship your car to LA, you should be ready for some pretty heavy traffic.
Hancock Park is quite high-end, even by LA standards. The median real estate value in the area is almost $1.5mil. Even so, the ratio between renters and homeowners is quite even. The residents are well-educated: more than half of them hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher. As a young single, you’re sure to enjoy the area’s nightlife – there are many bars, pubs, cafes, and clubs you can frequent.
A Los Angeles Neighborhood With Quite a History
Hancock Park is a historic neighborhood. A century ago, this was an oil field owned by a local family. Today, it has 1920s-style homes and tree-lined streets. But there’s more to this area than pretty buildings. What makes it unique is that what once was an area where Jews weren’t allowed is today one of the most inclusive communities around. In fact, this is one of the most diverse upscale communities in LA.
West Hollywood – One of the Top Suburbs of Los Angeles
Hancock Park’s neighborhood, West Hollywood is a gem among the suburbs of Los Angeles. Even so, it offers a dense urban vibe, with most residents living in apartments. Housing in WeHo is slightly more affordable – the median home value is just under $750,000. However, most locals rent their homes, and the median price is around $1,500 a month.
The average household in West Hollywood makes around $70,000, which is quite higher than the national median. If you’re still trying to get a job before you move, some of the top employers in the area include:
- LACMTA – the local public transportation authority
- Target – American retail chain
- CityGrid Media – an online advertising agency
- InterActive Corp – an international holding company
- Mondrian – a chain of boutique hotels
One of the Most LGBT-Friendly Cities in the World
If the name WeHo sounds familiar, it’s probably due to the fact that this is one of the most prominent LGBT communities in the country. The gay culture is celebrated throughout the year, with events such as the Christopher Street West Pride Parade, One City One Pride LGBT Arts Festival, and Frontrunners LGBT Pride Run.
Venice – Enjoy Living by the Ocean
Let’s face it – no one imagines living in Los Angeles to be similar to living in other metropolises. The things that first come to mind are palm trees and sandy beaches. If you agree, you’re sure to love Venice. This beachfront neighborhood started off as an independent resort town and merged with LA in the 1920s.
Venice is known as a gathering place for artists of all kinds. It was famous for the Beat subculture in the 50s and 60s, and it remains quirky and different to this day. Big names such as Charles Bukowski, Tom Waits, Jim Morrison, Thom Mayne, and Anjelica Huston are commonly associated with Venice.
If You Want to Live Here, You Should Know the Rent Will Be High
You probably saw this coming: housing in a beachfront neighborhood in California is not too likely to be cheap. The median real estate price in Venice is slightly over $1 million. If you’re planning to rent, expect to pay around $2,000 for a two-bedroom apartment on a monthly basis.
Silver Lake – Just North of Downtown
Silver Lake is a spot that will provide you with easy access to every other corner of LA, but it still retains some of the suburban calmness and sense of community.
With the median home value of slightly over $800,000, and rent slightly exceeding $1,600, it is one of the more affordable options on our list. Residents of Silver Lake are mostly young and liberal, which makes this an excellent place for young single professionals.
Silver Lake is best known for all kinds of restaurants, bistros, brasseries, cafes, and coffee shops. Its hipsterish culture and overall liberal attitude attract mostly a younger crowd. As a bonus, this is one of the most pet-friendly neighborhoods in the city, so if you are moving with pets or are planning to adopt one, you’re sure to love it here.
Silver Lake and Other Safest Neighborhoods in LA
One of the best perks of Silver Lake is the low crime rate. But aside from Silver Lake, what are the safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles? Some of the best-ranking communities in that respect are:
- Mar Vista
- Temple City
- Encino
- Sherman Oaks
- Sawtelle
- Studio City
Beverly Grove – Brimming With Young Professionals
Beverly Grove has one of the highest percentages of never-married residents, not only in California but in the entire United States. If that doesn’t make it one of the best choices for young professionals, we don’t know what will.
Residents of Beverly Grove are not only single – they’re also well educated. Out of the 20,000 people, about two-thirds of them hold a university degree. A typical household in the area makes around $95,000. Of course, with high salaries come high housing prices. We all know that the cost of living in Los Angeles is high, and Beverly Grove is no exception. If you’re planning to rent a home here, just like over 70% of locals do, plan on spending over $2,000 monthly just on housing.
Los Feliz – Diverse and Fun
Describing Los Feliz is no easy job. Within this neighborhood, there are several smaller, distinct areas, such as Los Feliz Hills, Los Feliz Estates, Laughlin, and more. Whichever one of these areas you choose, however, you can be sure that you’ll live in a highly diverse, accepting, and overall vibrant community.
Just like most other prominent neighborhoods of LA, Los Feliz has pretty high housing prices. If you’re planning to buy a home, you better have over a million saved up. If you’d instead rent, you’ll likely pay around $1,500 every month. The median household income is over $80,000.
Fun Facts About Los Feliz
Los Feliz is one of those neighborhoods that everyone knows a story or a fun fact about. Here are some highlights:
- The famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed two homes in this neighborhood
- Walt Disney drew Mickey Mouse for the first time in his uncle’s garage in Los Feliz
- Los Feliz was notorious for being the location of some of the Charles Manson murders
- Charles Bukowski loved coming to Los Feliz dive bars for a drink
- California’s Disneyland was, in part, inspired by Los Feliz.
Last But Not Least – Santa Monica
The beachfront community of Santa Monica is by far one of the most desirable locations among newcomers. Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park have made it a popular travel destination, but vast job opportunities and prosperous economy are what gets people to stay here for good. Property costs in Santa Monica are quite high, even for Californian standards, but if you ask us, you can’t put a price on life by the beach.
Pick Your Favorite
Have you found your new home in LA yet? Then it’s time to start packing your bags. With reliable Los Angeles movers to provide you with moving services, you can direct all your focus on making the transition and starting over in the City of Angels. Sandy beaches, palm trees, and ocean breeze are eagerly waiting for you.