The 10 Richest Neighborhoods in Los Angeles
Every city has some areas that are expensive and other neighborhoods that are considered affordable. In most cases, the most expensive places to live are also the richest, as they are home to the highest earners. The residents’ high salaries are what enable people to live in the best areas, as they need a substantial income to cover the cost of paying a mortgage or rent plus other living costs. So, what are the richest neighborhoods in L.A? Here are the 10 richest neighborhoods in Los Angeles based on the median income of the residents.
10. Studio City, $105,301
Just making it onto the list of the richest neighborhoods in Los Angeles is Studio City, which is a neighborhood that lies just west of the Cahuenga Pass in the southeast San Fernando Valley. It is so-called because it is the location where film producer Mack Sennett established the studio lot that is now called Radford Studio Center.
Studio City is home to just under 42,000 residents, and the median household income in the neighborhood is $105,301. The prestige of the neighborhood has attracted multiple high-profile residents. Some of these include Lucy Liu, Ryan Gosling, Lucy Hale, Vanessa Hudgens, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jack Osborne, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Frank Zappa, Seth MacFarlane, and Mila Kunis.
Buying a property in this neighborhood is expensive, and the median house price is around $1.39 million. However, it is becoming more affordable, as the value of properties in this neighborhood has dropped by approximately 18 percent over the last 12 months.
9. Hollywood Hills, $108,400
Hollywood Hills is a neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles with a population of fewer than 22,000 people. The neighborhood sits in the Santa Monica Mountains, and it straddles the Cahuenga Pass. Surrounding neighborhoods include Studio City, Burbank, Los Feliz, Griffith Park, Hollywood Deli, Hollywood Hills West, and Universal City.
The area is divided into ten smaller neighborhoods, including Laurel Canyon, Beachwood Canyon, The Bird Streets, Cahuenga Pass, Hollywood Deli, Whitley Heights, Franklin Village, Hollywoodland, Hollywood Dell, Hollywood Heights, and Outpost Estates.
According to Realtor, the median home price in Hollywood Hills is $2 million, which means that only affluent people can afford to live in the neighborhood. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that it has many celebrity residents. These include Christina Aguilera, Kevin Costner, Lady Gaga, Salma Hayek, Anna Kendrick, Tobey Maguire, Helen Hunt, Keanu Reeves, Quentin Tarantino, Joaquin Phoenix, and Rebel Wilson.
8. West Hills, $109,439
The seventh richest neighborhood in Los Angeles is West Hills, which is a residential community in the western San Fernando Valley. West Hills borders Woodland Hills, Hidden Hills, and Canoga Park. The area has a population of more than 41,000 residents, and the median household income is $109,439.
Property prices have risen by around 11 percent over the last year, and the median home price is now around $1 million. Some of the area’s notable residents include America Ferrara, Daniella Monet, Kevin Pillar, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.
Although both properties and the cost of living are high in this area, there are many positive features that make it a location worth considering for homebuyers. There are multiple parks and other outdoor spaces for the residents to enjoy in their leisure time, along with various health and fitness facilities. The area also has good nightlife, excellent public schools, and easy commutability.
7. West Los Angeles, $109,618
West Los Angeles is a neighborhood with both residential and commercial areas, and it lies within the city of Los Angeles. It has a population of more than 52,000 people, and the median household income is $109,618. The neighborhood includes several smaller neighborhoods, including Rancho Park, Beverlywood, Castle Heights, South Carthay, Wilshire Vista, Crestview, Cheviot Hills, Picfair Village, La Cienega Heights, Pico-Robertson, Little Ethiopia, Faircrest Heights, and Reynier Village.
Around 51 percent of the residents rent their homes, while approximately 49 percent of the population buy their own property. The average property price in the neighborhood is $1.1 million, which is significantly more than the average for Los Angeles metropolitan area, which Norada Real Estate Investment says is $800,000.
Several well-known sports personalities are from this neighborhood. These include baseball coach Pat Doyle and NFL football players Mitchel Schwartz and Geoff Schwartz. Other notable people from the area are actress Juliet Landeau, illusionist David Avadon, and guitarist Pat Smear.
6. Century City, $113,367
Century City is a neighborhood on the Western side of Laos Angeles that lies to the south of Santa Monica Boulevard. It comprises a residential area and a business district, and Century City is known for its distinctive skyline of skyscrapers. The area is home to 5,674 residents, says Point 2 Homes.
The neighborhood is one of Los Angeles’ most prominent employment areas, and there are opportunities in industries with high earning potential, such as entertainment and finance. Century City houses Fox Studios and Constellation Place. The latter houses finance and investment companies.
Century City’s median home price is $1.84 million, which means that the area attracts wealthy people. Those who choose to live there are people who prefer city living to a spacious estate, as most properties are apartments in high rises. The residents include businesspeople who are successful in their industries, and there are also some celebrities who have bought Century City properties, including Cheryl Cole and Paula Abdul.
In addition to the urban vibe, something that attracts people to live in this area is the range of things to do in their leisure time. There are shopping complexes, multiple places to eat, and attractions such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Santa Monica Pier, and the Griffith Observatory.
5. Beverly Glen, $116,423
Beverly Glen is a neighborhood in the Santa Monica Mountains region of Los Angeles, and it is home to the Stone Canyon Reservoir. The neighborhood has a population of 53,114 residents, and the median household income is $116,423. Beverly Glen has several subdivisions, including the planned developments Glenridge and Beverly Glen Park. Both these subdivisions have expansive homes with community amenities such as tennis courts and outdoor pools.
The current median home price in Beverly Glen is $2.7 million. The area has seen one of the most significant property value increases in Los Angeles over the last year, as the median home price has risen by an impressive 15.4 percent. At the top end of the scale, the area’s most expensive property, a 13-bedroom estate, went on the market for a whopping $160 million.
Beverly Glen attracts many rich and famous people. Some notable residents with properties in this area are Samuel L. Jackson, Faith Hill, Kimora Lee-Simmons, Denzel Washington, and Rod Stewart. The neighborhood was also once home to Lisa Vanderpump.
4. Richest Master-Planned Community in Los Angeles: Porter Ranch, $122,141
Porter Ranch is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles. It is one of the richest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, as the median household income is $122,141. The neighborhood is also one of the most expensive places to live in Los Angeles, with a median home price of $1.16 million, says Redfin. However, many of the properties have a price tag exceeding $2 million.
It is a master-planned community of large, luxurious properties with expansive gardens, and the community promises elevated living. There are gated entries and private recreation centers. Furthermore, there is convenient access to transport links, high-end retail outlets, parks, and various recreation activities. Some of the community’s facilities include walking trails, play areas, and tennis courts.
The community is home to several people with high positions in local government. It is also the former home of film and television actress Lori Nelson, who is best known for her work in the 1950s and 1960s. Lori Nelson died in her Porter Ranch home in 2020.
3. Brentwood, $168,650
Brentwood is a suburban district of Los Angeles that lies at the base of the Santa Monica Mountains. Sunset Boulevard runs through the neighborhood, and while the area to the north of the famous road is predominantly covered by ridges and canyons, the southern part of the neighborhood is mostly flat.
Within Brentwood, there are nine subdivisions. These are Brentwood Circle, Brentwood Glen, Brentwood Park, Brentwood Terrace, Bundy Canyon, Crestwood Hills, Mandeville Canyon, Sullivan Canyon, and The Polo Field.
Brentwood has a population of just under 35,000 residents, and the median household income is $168,650. It is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Los Angeles, as the median home price is $2.5 million, which is an increase of 19 percent since 2021.
Marilyn Monroe was once a resident of Brentwood. Other notable people who come from or live in the neighborhood include Joan Crawford, Dr. Dre, Monica Lewinsky, Gwyneth Paltrow, Conan O’Brien, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Reese Witherspoon, and LeBron James.
2. One of the Most Expensive Neighborhoods in Los Angeles: Pacific Palisades, $177,558
Pacific Palisades is located in the Westside region of Los Angeles, CA, and it is home to just under 29,000 people. The neighborhood was founded by a Methodist organization in 1921, then became a refuge for Jewish intellectuals and artists fleeing the Holocaust.
Currently, it is an area that attracts high-profile individuals with a healthy bank balance, as the median home price is around $4 million, making it one of the most expensive neighborhoods in L.A. Most of the properties in the neighborhood are single-family, detached homes set in substantial grounds. However, there are also smaller properties and condos available.
There are multiple celebrities born in the Pacific Palisades area or who now own property in the neighborhood. These include James Worthy, Nicole Kidman, Diane Keaton, Anthony Hopkins, Kate Hudson, Judd Apatow, Ben Affleck, Chevy Chase, Leslie Mann, Chris O’Donnell, Bob Saget, Steven Spielberg, Hilary Swank, and Kurt Russell.
One reason the area attracts celebrities is that its secluded location means the residents enjoy more privacy than other expensive neighborhoods with large homes. They also enjoy living close to the coast.
Another reason the neighborhood is so appealing is because of the many leisure activities there are to enjoy. These include multiple trails, city parks, state parks, beaches, historic landmarks, and community events. There are also elite clubs in the area, such as Bel Air Bay Club, Will Rogers Polo Club, and Riviera Country Club.
The neighborhood is divided into various smaller neighborhoods, including The Village, The Riviera, Palisades Highlands, The Alphabet Streets, Marquez Knolls, The El Medio Mesa, Castellammare, Rustic Canyon, The El Medio Bluffs, The Via Bluffs, and the Huntington Palisades.
1. The Richest Neighborhood in Los Angeles: Bel Air, $183,950
According to Home Snacks, the richest neighborhood in Los Angeles is Bel Air, with just over 10,000 residents and a median household income of $183,950. The neighborhood is also known as Bel-Air or Bel Air Estates, and it is set entirely in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. It is bordered by Sunset Boulevard and lies approximately 12 miles west of Downtown Los Angeles. The three distinct neighborhoods within Bel Air are East Gate Old Bel Air, West Gate Bel Air, and Upper Bel Air.
Bel Air is one of the most expensive places to live in Los Angeles, and it is one of the three Bs on the Westside that are known for high properties, along with Brentwood and Beverly Hills. The median home price has seen a 14.5 percent increase over the last 12 months, and it now stands at $6.3 million.
Like many of the richest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, Bel Air attracts celebrities and other wealthy people. LA Times says some of the famous residents include Jay Z and Beyonce, Jennifer Aniston, and Elon Musk. Others include Clint Eastwood, The Weeknd, Rod Stewart, and Steve Martin.
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