Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Studio City
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Studio City
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 Studio City scores for you
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Studio City sits in the southeast San Fernando Valley, anchored by the Radford Studio Center, the historic film studio lot established by producer Mack Sennett in 1927. The neighborhood carries that production heritage visibly, with the studio lot and creative businesses woven into daily life. It's a quieter, car-dependent part of the Valley, but with enough foot traffic to support local cafes, restaurants, and shops.
The area ranks 54th out of 114 LA neighborhoods for walkability, meaning you can handle some errands on foot but a car makes life easier. It's denser than much of the Valley but still maintains a residential feel with significant tree canopy (among the top 12 of LA neighborhoods). New lease rents average about $3,164 per month, putting it near the middle of LA's rental market.
Living here
Day-to-day life involves a mix of walking and driving. You'll find coffee shops, restaurants, and grocery stores (Ralphs, Trader Joe's, Vons) within a short walk, and parks like South Weddington Park and Campo de Cahuenga nearby for outdoor time. But reaching many destinations requires a car, and the neighborhood sits in a high-traffic corridor (ranks 81st of 114 for traffic exposure). Air quality is moderate, with diesel PM exposure slightly above the LA median.
The Metro B Line runs through the neighborhood at Universal/Studio City Station, but transit overall is limited (ranks 85th of 114), so most residents rely on personal vehicles. Tree cover is decent compared to the rest of LA, which helps with shade and walkability feel, even if the streetscape remains mostly open.
Who it's for
Studio City works for renters who want a quieter, car-owning lifestyle but still want walkable pockets for daily needs. It suits people working in the Valley or entertainment industry, or those who value the neighborhood's creative history and don't mind driving for most trips. It's less ideal if you rely on public transit or prefer dense urban walkability.
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: walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
A mixed walkability area. Good for quick trips on foot, but some destinations will require driving or transit.
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
1 station inside Studio City, none further out worth noting.
Who lives in Studio City
Population
19,902
Renters
51%
of households rent
Median age
43
Median income
$134k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Studio City
4 public schools sit inside this area · 4 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenter Community CharterCharter Elementary | K-5 | 84% | 82% |
| Rio Vista Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 48% | 45% |
| Walter Reed Middle Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 67% | 55% |
| Berenece Carlson Home Hospital Elementary-High Combination | K-12 | 39% | 25% |
Source: California Dept. of Education (directory) and CAASPP Smarter Balanced, 2025. We publish these figures as the state reports them and show the same table for every neighborhood. Saktoo does not rate schools, and school data is never part of a neighborhood match score. Attendance boundaries change — confirm the assigned school with the district before relying on it.
Around Studio City
Ralphs · Trader Joe's · Vons
Aroma Coffee & Tea · Blue Bottle Coffee · Carla's Cafe · Coffee Fix
Amir's Falafel · Art's Deli · AVI CUE · Avi-Que
Campo de Cahuenga · James Boon Lankershim Memorial · North Weddington Park · Radford Art Walk
Barre3 · Detox Cycle House · Planet Fitness
Check your commute from Studio City
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Similar neighborhoods
Next to Studio City
What the census says about Studio City
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Studio City; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 35 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 69%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1970
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 2%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 10%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 96%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 44%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 3 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 9,487
- total housing units
Averaged across 13 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Studio City in the regional index
How Studio City places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Plenty nearby, easy to get around
Ranks #57 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where growing up led to higher adult earnings
Ranks #67 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Tree cover, clean air, little traffic
Ranks #75 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Studio City
Found a place you like? Score it against your priorities to see how well any address fits your budget and commute.
Frequently asked questions
Is Studio City walkable?+
It's walkable for some errands like coffee and groceries, but you'll want a car for most trips. It ranks 54th of 114 LA neighborhoods for walkability, which means more car-dependent than the LA average.
What's public transit like?+
The Metro B Line stops at Universal/Studio City Station right in the neighborhood, but overall transit access is limited (ranks 85th of 114). Most residents drive regularly despite the station.
How much should I budget for rent?+
New leases run about $3,164 per month on average. That's close to the LA median and ranks 66th of 114 neighborhoods, so it's mid-range for the city.
Does the neighborhood have good tree cover?+
Yes, Studio City ranks 12th of 114 LA neighborhoods for tree canopy at about 15 percent, which is well above the LA average. You'll see shaded streets and green space, especially near parks like Woodbridge Park.
What is the average rent in Studio City?+
A new lease in Studio City typically asks around $3,164 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $2,032 (Census ACS), which includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants, so expect asking prices closer to the first number.
Does Studio City have Metro rail access?+
Yes. Studio City has 1 Metro rail station within its boundary (Universal / Studio City), served by the Metro B Line.
How is the air quality in Studio City?+
Studio City has moderate diesel PM exposure for California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 57 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Studio City?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Studio City are Silver Lake, Pasadena, Eagle Rock and South Pasadena.