Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Wilmington
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Wilmington
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 Wilmington scores for you
Checking your quiz profile…
Score Wilmington your way
Drag a slider to say how much each thing matters to you. The score updates live.
Want the real thing? Take the full quiz to factor in your budget and commute and rank Wilmington against every neighborhood.
Wilmington is a South Bay neighborhood with industrial roots and a working character. It sits near the Port of Los Angeles and rail yards, giving it a gritty, no-frills feel distinct from the beach communities nearby. For renters willing to trade some polish for lower costs and direct freeway access, it offers practical living without the pretense.
The neighborhood is mostly residential blocks with scattered commercial corridors. You will see flat terrain, wide streets, and a mix of older apartment buildings and single-family homes. Air quality and tree cover are notably limited due to proximity to port operations and freeways. Traffic moves fast here, and the pace reflects a working neighborhood rather than a leisure destination.
Living here
Day-to-day life in Wilmington centers on practicality. You can handle some errands on foot (about 2 restaurants and 1 grocery store within a short walk), but a car is essential for most trips. Parking is generally easy to find. The neighborhood ranks 19th of 114 LA neighborhoods for traffic exposure, meaning you will encounter moderate congestion, but it is not among the worst. Public transit is minimal, with no Metro rail stations nearby, so driving or rideshare are your main options for getting around.
The environment here is industrial-adjacent: you will notice diesel air quality ranks in the bottom 25 of LA neighborhoods (91st of 114), a real factor if you have respiratory sensitivity. Tree cover is sparse at 2 percent, well below the LA average of 6.2 percent, so summers feel hot and exposed. These are genuine tradeoffs for the rent savings. East Wilmington Park and the Wilmington Waterfront Promenade offer some outdoor space, though options are limited.
Who it's for
Wilmington suits budget-conscious renters and workers with jobs in the South Bay, port area, or Long Beach. It works for people who value proximity to freeways and lower rent (about $2,384 for a new lease, 18th most affordable of 114 neighborhoods) over walkability and air quality. It is practical for commuters and those without strict air-quality concerns, less so for people seeking vibrant street life or who spend significant time outdoors.
Environment & livability
Air quality: high diesel PM exposure, top quartile in California.
Linked to elevated respiratory and cardiovascular risk in long-term residents. See the air quality flag for more detail.
Traffic exposure: above-average traffic corridor exposure.
Higher traffic proximity correlates with elevated noise, diesel emissions, and reduced pedestrian comfort on nearby streets.
Tree cover: very limited tree cover, predominantly concrete.
Low canopy areas tend to run hotter and feel more exposed. Research links tree cover to lower ambient temperatures and improved pedestrian comfort.
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.
Who lives in Wilmington
Population
53,814
Renters
65%
of households rent
Median age
32
Median income
$61k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Wilmington
10 public schools sit inside this area · 10 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broad Avenue Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 42% | 44% |
| Fries Avenue Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 26% | 28% |
| George De La Torre Jr. Elementary Elementary | K-8 | 31% | 30% |
| Gulf Avenue Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 39% | 39% |
| Harry Bridges Span Elementary | K-8 | 50% | 42% |
| Hawaiian Avenue Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 25% | 25% |
| Scholarship Prep - South BayCharter Elementary | K-8 | 37% | 21% |
| Wilmington Park Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 37% | 36% |
| Wilmington Middle Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (STEAM) Magnet Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 39% | 32% |
| Phineas Banning Senior High High School | 9-12 | 51% | 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 Wilmington
Food 4 Less · Northgate Gonzalez Market · Numero Uno 113
Chowder Barge · Domino's · El Norte Restaurant · El Pollo Loco
Banning Park · Drum Barracks · East Wilmington Park · Field of Dreams
Check your commute from Wilmington
Enter your work (or any) address for real travel times from this neighborhood.
Similar neighborhoods
Next to Wilmington
What the census says about Wilmington
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Wilmington; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 29 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 75%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1965
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 23%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 3%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 91%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 50%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 2 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 9,509
- total housing units
Averaged across 21 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Wilmington in the regional index
How Wilmington places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Where rent goes furthest
Ranks #37 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where home prices go furthest
Ranks #41 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Low rent and clean air together
Ranks #59 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Wilmington
Found a place you like? Score it against your priorities to see how well any address fits your budget and commute.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car in Wilmington?+
Yes. While you can walk to a few nearby restaurants and a grocery store, public transit is minimal with no Metro rail access, and most errands require a car. The neighborhood ranks 64th of 114 for transit access, so driving or rideshare is strongly recommended.
What is the rent here compared to other LA neighborhoods?+
New leases average $2,384, making Wilmington about 18 percent cheaper than the LA average and ranking 18th most affordable of 114 neighborhoods. Current residents pay a median of $1,434 because many have older, rent-stabilized leases; budget for the asking rent if you are moving in now.
Is air quality a concern in Wilmington?+
Yes. Wilmington ranks 91st of 114 neighborhoods for air quality, with high diesel particulate exposure from nearby port and freeway operations. If you are sensitive to pollution or spend time outdoors, this is a real tradeoff to consider.
What is there to do outside in Wilmington?+
Tree cover is very limited at 2 percent, and outdoor amenities are sparse. East Wilmington Park, Banning Park, and the Wilmington Waterfront Promenade exist, but the neighborhood is not a destination for outdoor recreation. You will want to drive elsewhere for parks, hiking, or beach access.
Is Wilmington walkable?+
Wilmington ranks #136 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
What is the average rent in Wilmington?+
A new lease in Wilmington typically asks around $2,384 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $1,434 (Census ACS), which includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants, so expect asking prices closer to the first number.
How is the air quality in Wilmington?+
Wilmington has high diesel PM exposure, top quartile in California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 77 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Wilmington?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Wilmington are Lennox, Lynwood, El Monte and Boyle Heights.