The Best Neighborhoods in LA for Young People

Whether you have just moved to Los Angeles as a student or a young professional, choosing the right place to stay will make a world of difference in your experience of the diverse and vibrant city. Every locale in LA has its unique character and vibe. So, choosing your neighborhood is more than just about location and convenience—you also have to consider your personality. Here is our list of the best neighborhoods for students and young professionals in LA.

USC and Surrounds

The University of Southern California (USC) is a meeting place for youth and thought leaders that is full of activity. Encompassing the Fisher Museum of Art, Natural History Museum of LA, California African American Museum, bookstores, and art centers, the area around USC is perfect for students and young professionals to want to make the most of life.

There are a multitude of choices for USC off campus housing from compact bungalows to co-living apartments with over ten private bedrooms. Being in the center of the USC ecosystem means that you will have easy access to café, restaurants, libraries, and a multitude of social events. Enjoy being in a diverse environment with services geared towards students such as a plethora of convenience stores.

Culver City

Culver City on the west side of LA feels like a small town grown big and is known for being particularly safe, albeit somewhat boring compared to the raucous reputation of LA. The location of Culver City is a definite bonus with LAX, Downtown, Santa Monica, and the beach just a short drive away. The area itself is well-contained and easy to navigate on foot, with a beautiful urban canopy.

Many students and young families have made this suburb their home and the general vibe is friendly and cooperative with monthly farmers’ markets and quiet neighborhoods. Many small parks and outdoor spaces provide for exercise and relaxation while a variety of cute coffee shops and a diverse selection of restaurants provide unlimited options for dining.

Silver Lake

Silver Lake is a lively and artsy neighborhood known for its array of hipster coffee shops, healthy eateries, and chic cocktail bars. Classic Spanish-style homes and contemporary buildings create an interesting mix of architecture that complements its vibrant art scene. The area is also only a convenient 15-minute drive away from Downtown and Hollywood.

Silver Lake is all rolling green hills, parks, and the namesake lake. A score of green spaces including the Silver Lake Reservoir offer numerous options for exercise and outdoor relaxation. This area is popular with young families and students and extremely dog-friendly. If you love chill little hideaways, craft beer, and walks with your dog, Silver Lake will be a great suburb for you.

Echo Park

Echo Park is another hipster central located just north of Downtown and Chinatown. This budding area checks all the boxes when it comes to trendy restaurants, coffee shops, and nightlife. Classic bungalows blend with modern apartment buildings, giving students and young professionals a host of choices for living arrangements.

Echo Park feels like a calm oasis in the middle of a bustling city. Lots of green space from Echo Park Lake to the many parks that surround the Dodger’s Stadium allow for picnics and strolls. A very walkable and bikeable area with festivals, food trucks, and farmers’ markets.

Downtown LA

If you like being in the heart of the action, then Downtown LA is where it is at. Being in the center of the public transport system means you can bid your car farewell. Big city amenities with walkable streets combine the best of both worlds in a neighborhood that has modern sky-high condominiums, converted warehouses, and old-fashioned buildings with loads of character.

A strong sense of community permeates the area with cool districts like the Arts District, the Historic Core, and Japan Town. With so much personality, it is no wonder that the dining scene in Downtown is one of the best in the country. The gritty side of Downtown is rapidly being cleaned up but retains an interesting and edgy feel.

Koreatown

Bordering East Hollywood and Westlake, Koreatown is probably the most fun location for young people. This walkable area sits on top of both the Purple and Red lines of the Metro, allowing for easy transits and transport. An extremely diverse locale, Koreatown is not just home to Asians but also Hispanic and Black people, with amazing grocery and dining options.

The three-square-mile area of Koreatown boasts LA’s largest concentration of clubs and all-night eateries, and plenty of nightlife activities abound like karaoke joints, live music venues, and low-key speakeasies. If you love learning about other cultures and meeting people, you will love Koreatown.

There are many options for accommodation in Los Angeles for students and young professionals. For the best position amidst a lively educational hub, it is difficult to beat the areas surrounding USC. But if you want to live further afield, many other areas in LA are great for young people to live and work or study.