Best Neighborhoods for Retirees in Los Angeles, CA
2 neighborhoods ranked by safety, quiet living, air quality, affordability, and walkability — the factors that matter most for a comfortable retirement.
Best Neighborhoods for Retirees in Los Angeles — Key Takeaways
The best neighborhood for retirees in Los Angeles is Santa Monica with a Retiree Score of 66/100. Los Angeles has 2 neighborhoods evaluated for retirement livability. The safest neighborhood is Silver Lake with a violent crime rate of 5.0 per 1,000 residents. Best air quality goes to Santa Monica with an AQI of 6.
Los Angeles has a population of 3,979,576, a median household income of $65,290, and a median home value of $750,000, which is 166% above the national average of $281,900.
Data sourced from the US Census Bureau, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA AirNow, DOT Noise Map, Walk Score, and FEMA. Last updated: March 2026.
| # | Neighborhood | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica | 66 | ||
| Silver Lake | 58 |
Rankings by Category
Top 5 neighborhoods in Los Angeles for each retiree-relevant metric.
Lowest violent crime rate
- 5.0 per 1K
- 5.0 per 1K
Lowest Air Quality Index
- AQI 6
- AQI 55
Lowest median home value
- $1,050,000
- $1,490,000
Highest Walk Score
- 92/100
- 88/100
Lowest property crime rate
- 29.6 per 1K
- 29.6 per 1K
Highest median household income
- $116,815
- $73,906
Neighborhoods are ranked using the Retiree Score, a composite livability index specifically designed for retirees. It prioritizes the factors that matter most for a comfortable, safe, and healthy retirement:
- Safety (Violent Crime)
- 25% weight
- Quiet Living (Road Noise)
- 20% weight
- Air Quality (AQI)
- 20% weight
- Affordability (Home Value)
- 20% weight
- Walkability (Walk Score)
- 15% weight
Safety is weighted highest because personal security is the top concern for retirees. Quiet living and air quality reflect the importance of a healthy, peaceful environment. Affordability matters for those on fixed incomes, and walkability supports an active lifestyle without reliance on driving.
Data Sources: US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), EPA AirNow, DOT National Transportation Noise Map, Walk Score, and FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer. All data is updated on a rolling basis as new government releases become available.