Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Rancho Park
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Rancho Park
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 Rancho Park scores for you
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Rancho Park is a quiet, tree-lined residential neighborhood on LA's Westside, wedged between West Los Angeles and Cheviot Hills. The area grew into its own identity in the 1930s after Olympic Boulevard divided it from Westwood, and today it retains that suburban character while remaining close to urban amenities. You'll find mostly single-family homes, walkable local streets, and a mix of young professionals and families.
The neighborhood ranks 6th most walkable of 114 LA areas, meaning most daily errands can be done on foot. However, it sits in one of LA's worst traffic corridors (ranking 113th for traffic exposure), and public transit options are minimal. This is a car-dependent area despite the walkability, with the Metro E Line accessible but limited in reach.
Living here
Day-to-day life here centers on local commerce and quiet residential streets. You can walk to about nine restaurants, two coffee spots, and a grocery (Trader Joe's is nearby) within a short distance, plus Palms Park for outdoor space. The tree canopy is modest at 13.4 percent, so the streetscape feels relatively open. Air quality is moderate, with diesel PM exposure slightly above the LA average.
The major tradeoff is traffic. Rancho Park sits along a major corridor with heavy congestion, making car travel slower and noisier than in less-exposed areas. If you work in the neighborhood or nearby on the Westside, a car is nearly essential despite the walkability to shops and restaurants.
Who it's for
Rancho Park suits Westside professionals and families who want a suburban, tree-filled setting without the isolation of deeper hillside neighborhoods. It works well if you work locally or tolerate commuting by car, and if you value being able to walk for groceries and meals. The high rents (about $3,569 for a new lease) limit it to households with solid incomes, and the lack of transit makes it less ideal for transit-dependent renters.
Environment & livability
Air quality: moderate diesel PM exposure for California.
Above the state median, linked to mild long-term respiratory risk in some studies. Worth considering for sensitive households.
Traffic exposure: high traffic corridor exposure.
This area is near major traffic corridors, linked to higher noise levels, diesel PM, and reduced street-level comfort.
Tree cover: limited tree cover, mostly open streetscape.
Less canopy means more heat exposure and less visual greenery on daily walks. LA County median is around 14% canopy coverage.
Walkability: most daily errands can be done on foot.
High intersection density and destination access. The kind of area where a car is optional for daily life.
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
2 stations inside Rancho Park, 1 more nearby.
Who lives in Rancho Park
Population
4,233
Renters
47%
of households rent
Median age
40
Median income
$104k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Around Rancho Park
Trader Joe's
Aroma Cafe · Jennifer Pennifer Bakes
Bossa Nova · Chilli Thai · Gyu-Kaku · Hoboken
Palms Park
Check your commute from Rancho Park
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Similar neighborhoods
Next to Rancho Park
What the census says about Rancho Park
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Rancho Park; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 25 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 82%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1949
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 1%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 10%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 95%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 90%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 3 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 688
- total housing units
Averaged across 2 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Finding a place in Rancho Park
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Frequently asked questions
How expensive is Rancho Park?+
Asking rents for new leases run about $3,569, putting it in the top 5 percent most expensive areas in LA (rank 110 of 114). Current residents pay a median of about $3,014, but that figure includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants. Budget from the asking rent if you are moving here now.
Do I need a car?+
Yes. While the neighborhood is walkable for shops and restaurants, it sits in one of LA's heaviest traffic corridors with minimal public transit beyond the Metro E Line. A car is strongly recommended for getting around the greater LA area.
What's the public transit situation?+
Rancho Park has two Metro E Line stations within the neighborhood (Westwood / Rancho Park and Expo / Sepulveda), plus Palms Station 0.7 km away. However, the E Line is limited in reach, and transit ranks 23rd of 114 neighborhoods overall, so car dependency remains high.
How walkable is it?+
Very. The neighborhood ranks 6th of 114 for walkability, meaning most daily errands can be done on foot. You'll find restaurants, coffee shops, and groceries within a short walk, plus Palms Park nearby for outdoor activity.
Is Rancho Park walkable?+
Rancho Park ranks #5 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, most daily errands can be done on foot.
What is the average rent in Rancho Park?+
A new lease in Rancho Park typically asks around $3,569 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $3,014 (Census ACS), which includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants, so expect asking prices closer to the first number.
Does Rancho Park have Metro rail access?+
Yes. Rancho Park has 2 Metro rail stations within its boundary (Westwood / Rancho Park, Expo / Sepulveda), served by the Metro E Line.
How is the air quality in Rancho Park?+
Rancho Park has moderate diesel PM exposure for California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 70 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Rancho Park?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Rancho Park are Encino, Beverly Hills, Agoura Hills and Cypress Village.