TL;DR
Los Angeles is one of the most famous cities in California, known for its bustling nightlife, Hollywood potential, great schools, and amazing beaches. But if you want to feel safe when you move to LA, you should live in a safer neighborhood. Beverlywood is considered one of the safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, while areas in Downtown LA have higher crime rates. By being alert to your surroundings and picking your home carefully, you can feel safer wherever you live in LA.
Safest Neighborhoods in Los Angeles: Top Areas, Crime Rates, and Neighborhood Profiles
Los Angeles is a beautiful place to live, especially if you prefer warmer climates and plenty of interesting things to see and do. But is it a safe area? There are a lot of different LA neighborhoods, some of which have higher or lower safety scores than others.
In this post, we’re going to explore some of the safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, as well as what else they have to offer. Whether you’re looking for a place to live that has great schools, amazing beaches, or that’s best for young professionals looking for a good commuting area, here are some of the best and safest places to live in LA.
The neighborhoods included in this post are:
- Beverlywood
- Cheviot Hills
- Rancho Park
- Encino
- Pacific Palisades
- Westwood
- Mar Vista
- Los Feliz
- Sawtelle
- Sherman Oaks
- Downtown LA
We’ve used recent data from Areavibes, Forbes, Doorprofit, and other sources to try to get information that’s as accurate as possible.
Los Angeles Safe: Quick Overview
Los Angeles has a lot going for it. It’s one of those cities where there’s always something going on. Whether you’re into the party scene and the nightlife, water sports, music, film and TV, or professional opportunities, you can find a place in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, it’s also not the safest place to live in the country.
On average, LA has a much higher rate of violent crime than other cities, and contains some of the most dangerous block groups in the country.
However, violent crime rates in Los Angeles are falling. According to the 2025 Annual Crime Data Report, there was a massive 19% decrease in homicides in 2025, as well as more homicide cases being solved and cleared.
Does this mean that you can’t feel safe in LA? Absolutely not, there’s a lot more to the city than these very specific areas.
While looking at data like this is very helpful for getting an idea of a city, it’s not perfect. Datasets from even a couple of years ago can become less reliable, so it’s important to try to get as recent data as possible and from reliable sources. Even in this post, some data is from 2024, while some data is from 2025, and some might be from slightly earlier. Data is a useful tool to give you an idea of a situation, but it’s not infallible.
Even the data on neighborhood crime rates can be limited, because they don’t necessarily reflect crime in surrounding neighborhoods. So if you’re thinking seriously about moving to an area in LA, do your due diligence.
Quick Comparison of Safest Areas in Los Angeles
It’s important to bear in mind that crime rates and safety aren’t the only things to consider when moving to an area. So it helps to look at these neighborhoods in more detail. Still, here’s a quick comparison table to help you identify the safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles at a glance.
Most of this information is courtesy of DoorProfit, which uses a crime index rating to compare different areas. The national average crime index rating is 100, and the lower the rating, the safer the area.
| Neighborhoods (Listed according to safety | Overall Crime Index | Violent Crime Index | Property Crime Index |
| Beverlywood | 50 | 57 | 44 |
| Pacific Palisades | 69 | 72 | 78 |
| Cheviot Hills | 71 | 88 | 80 |
| Rancho Park | 97 | 83 | 89 |
| Encino | 103 | 82 | 83 |
| Mar Vista | 116 | 101 | 114 |
| Westwood | 134 | 128 | 137 |
| Sherman Oaks | 134 | 103 | 116 |
| Sawtelle | 155 | 138 | 145 |
| Los Feliz | 159 | 129 | 127 |
| Downtown LA | 162 | 150 | 147 |
Best LA Neighborhoods for Safety
As you can see from the comparison table above, there is a huge difference between crime index ratings in different parts of Los Angeles. But there are other reasons to move to certain areas of Los Angeles.
We aren’t robots, so we need more than just numbers to make a good decision. The following section will allow you to compare each of these neighborhoods using local context as well as raw data.
Beverlywood — Neighborhood Profile and Crime Rates
Beverlywood is widely considered the safest part of Los Angeles to live in. According to a 2023 report, it has a crime rate of only 22 per 1000 people. It’s a planned community right near Beverly Hills, complete with a residential area, as well as shopping, dining, and entertainment amenities right nearby.
It’s a brilliant place to live for families. There are some amazing schools in Beverlywood, including Larchmont Charter School and Renaissance Arts Academy. You can also benefit from Irving Schachter Park and some great shopping malls.
Cheviot Hills — Profile, Safety, and Fit
Located on the west side of the city, Cheviot Hills has plenty to offer for people who want a quieter life. There are some fantastic golf courses in Cheviot Hills, such as the Hillcrest Country Club, making it a great option for retirees or simply people who enjoy golfing and spending a lot of time outside.
Cheviot Hills is also considered one of the safest places to live in LA, and is perfect for people who want to be able to access the LA action without being caught up in it completely.
Rancho Park — Profile and Safety Snapshot
Rancho Park is widely considered one of the best places to live in LA for young professionals and commuters. It’s incredibly easy to access the 10 and 405 freeways, and you can travel anywhere in LA and beyond really easily.
It’s also a relatively safe part of Los Angeles, and there’s plenty to do in the neighborhood itself, as you can access the Westfield Century City Mall, the Rancho Park Gold Club, and Palms Park.
Encino — Safety, Amenities, and Outdoors
Encino is right near the Santa Monica Mountains and the Topanga State Park, so you can expect some amazing views and loads of outdoor activities right on your doorstep. It’s also still one of the safest places to live in LA, sitting around the national average.
This is an amazing place to live for dog owners, as your dogs can enjoy the Sepulveda Basin Dog Park, where they can run off-leash.
Pacific Palisades — Beachside Safety Profile
Pacific Palisades is almost as safe as Beverlywood, making it considerably safer than most areas of LA or even the country as a whole. One thing that really makes this area of LA stand out is the incredible beach access.
You can enjoy views of the canyon or the ocean, so it’s a truly stunning area to live in. There are also a lot of great schools nearby, so this is an ideal home for families.
Westwood — Safety Near UCLA
UCLA is widely considered one of the best public schools and universities in the country, so settling nearby is a surefire way to give your kids a great head start. They can easily commute to the university from home, or you can be near them even if they’re in university accommodation.
Westwood is often voted as one of the top ten neighborhoods in Los Angeles overall, and the very low crime rates help with this.
Mar Vista — Quiet Westside Neighborhood Profile
Mar Vista is still a relatively safe neighborhood in LA, and it’s a nice, quiet environment for people who don’t necessarily want to experience everything about city life. You can even enjoy local farmers’ markets and really get the best of both worlds.
Mar Vista is ideal for families or people who want to be near LA for work, without living right in the middle of the city.
Los Feliz — Central, Safe, and Affordable
While Los Angeles is considered one of the most expensive cities to live in the US, Los Feliz enjoys slightly lower prices without sacrificing safety. It’s a great place to live for young professionals and families, but it can also be a nice area for retirees and people who are happy to settle down for a while.
You can access Griffith Park very easily from Los Feliz, as well as other places of interest.
Sawtelle — Trendy and Relatively Safe
Sawtelle is where you move when you want to be somewhere with a really interesting culture. While it’s not as safe as some of the other areas in this list, it’s still up there among the safer places to live in Los Angeles.
It’s a very walkable area, with lots of great places to shop and eat. You can also just explore the neighborhood, often on foot.
Sherman Oaks — Valley Safety and Amenities
Sherman Oaks is a very safe area to live compared to others in LA, and it has a really nice, laid-back feel to it. What makes it stand out is the great shopping corridors, ranging from the Sherman Oaks Galleria for high-end brands, or smaller and more independent shops in Ventura Boulevard.
Simply put, there’s something for everyone.
Downtown LA — Risks, Hotspots, and Mitigation
As you might have noticed on the comparison table, Downtown LA is different from the rest. It has a much higher crime rate of 136 per 1000 residents per year, and is more crowded than many of the other neighborhoods.
But you can be safe in Downtown LA. Avoiding areas like Skid Row is a good place to start. The Art District is generally considered safe, especially during the day.
Neighborhoods in Los Angeles: Urban, Suburban, Beachside Safety Patterns
In Los Angeles and large cities as a whole, you will find that high-crime areas tend to also be high-density areas. While there are exceptions, as a general rule, urban areas like Downtown LA are less safe than suburban areas like Mar Vista, where fewer people live.
Beachside areas show a similar pattern. The neighborhoods near the beaches are often relatively safe, but crowded beaches can have higher crime rates as people target tourists.
How to Pick a Safe Neighborhood in Los Angeles
The key to picking a safe neighborhood in Los Angeles is to do your research. FBI and police records are accessible, and you can look at which areas have higher crime rates than others.
You might want to focus on certain crimes, like violent crimes or break-ins, to narrow down the search. As well as being safe at home, you also want to feel safe as you walk the streets.
Practical Safety Tips for Living in Los Angeles Safe Neighborhoods
Once you’ve found a safe place to live, it’s a good idea to still make sure that you’re aware of your surroundings. General practical safety tips might include:
- Not walking alone at night or in dark areas
- Looking up and around as you walk, not at your phone
- Not wearing noise-cancelling headphones while you’re out and about
- Don’t unnecessarily show off cash or valuables
- Keep your doors locked and invest in security features like cameras or alarms
FAQs About Safest Neighborhoods in Los Angeles
Which part of Los Angeles is generally safest?
Beverlywood, Pacific Palisades, and Cheviot Hills are considered the safest neighborhoods to live in LA. West Los Angeles is generally considered relatively safe.
Which LA areas should I avoid for safety reasons?
Downtown LA, specifically Skid Row, is known for high crime rates. Culver City, Santa Monica, and Inglewood also have reputations for high gang activity.
What are some well-known gated communities with high safety in LA?
Bel Air Crest is a resort-style neighborhood with great views and is nearby amenities in LA, but it also has 24-hour security on-site. Beverly Park is in Beverly Hills itself and has some huge properties. It’s known as a celebrity haven. Brentwood has a few gated communities, including Brentwood Circle and Brentwood Country Estates.
What are some relatively affordable but safe neighborhoods in LA?
Los Feliz is considered one of the more affordable neighborhoods in LA that’s also safe to live in.
