Los Angeles Neighborhoods Ranked by Crime, Schools, and Value

NeighborScore's composite index — weighted 40% crime, 35% schools, and 25% property value — ranks Beverly Hills (ZIP 90210) as Los Angeles's top neighborhood at 82/100, followed by Hollywood (90028) at 62/100, and South Central (90001) at 41/100. The 41-point gap between LA's highest and lowest-scoring ZIPs reflects a city where neighborhood quality diverges more sharply than almost any other major U.S. metro.

Why Beverly Hills Scores 82/100 — LA's Top Neighborhood

Beverly Hills leads LA's rankings on school performance. According to NCES EdFacts assessment data, schools in ZIP 90210 achieve 81% math proficiency and 84% reading proficiency — among the highest rates in California and the highest school score (91/100) in NeighborScore's entire pilot dataset. The crime score of 74/100 reflects city data showing approximately 4 violent incidents per month, one of the lowest rates among dense urban ZIP codes in the country.

Home prices average $1,240,000 with median rents around $4,200 per month. The value score of 72/100 is the lowest of the three LA ZIPs — Beverly Hills's premium is real. But 42 days on market reflects stable demand, and the combination of top schools and low crime makes 90210 the clear choice for families prioritizing education and safety over price.

Hollywood (90028): Mid-Tier LA at 62/100

Hollywood scores 62/100 overall, with a crime score of 48/100 — the weakest of the three LA ZIPs on safety. City data shows approximately 16 violent incidents and 32 property crimes per month in 90028. The school score of 65/100 reflects NCES data placing local schools at 55% math proficiency, well below Beverly Hills but above South Central. The median home price of $680,000 and $2,800 monthly rent deliver a value score of 74/100, the strongest of the three on that dimension.

South Central (90001): Affordability Can't Offset Crime and School Data

South Central scores 41/100 overall, driven by a crime score of 28/100 — the lowest in NeighborScore's Los Angeles dataset. City data shows approximately 28 violent incidents and 45 property crimes per month in 90001, seven times Beverly Hills's violent crime rate. The school score of 39/100 reflects NCES proficiency data placing local schools at 32% math proficiency. South Central's value score of 88/100 (median home $480,000, rent $1,650/mo) is the highest of the three LA ZIPs, but with crime and schools accounting for 75% of the composite weight, that advantage is overwhelmed.

Los Angeles Neighborhood Rankings at a Glance

• Beverly Hills (ZIP 90210) — NeighborScore 82/100 | Crime 74 | Schools 91 | Value 72 | Median home $1,240,000 | Rent $4,200/mo
• Hollywood (ZIP 90028) — NeighborScore 62/100 | Crime 48 | Schools 65 | Value 74 | Median home $680,000 | Rent $2,800/mo
• South Central (ZIP 90001) — NeighborScore 41/100 | Crime 28 | Schools 39 | Value 88 | Median home $480,000 | Rent $1,650/mo

Composite = crime × 0.40 + schools × 0.35 + value × 0.25. Sources: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, NCES EdFacts proficiency assessments, Zillow ZHVI.

What LA's Neighborhood Data Means for Buyers

Los Angeles's three-ZIP spread is one of the sharpest in NeighborScore's dataset. Beverly Hills earns 82/100 through excellence on schools — its 91 school score is the highest across all nine pilot ZIPs in LA, Chicago, and New York. Hollywood at 62/100 is a genuine mid-tier option, with lower crime exposure than South Central at a price point 46% below Beverly Hills. South Central at 41/100 illustrates a core principle: exceptional affordability cannot compensate when crime and school scores are both below 40.

Full ZIP-level profiles with 24-month price history, school-by-school NCES data, and monthly crime trends are available for Beverly Hills (90210), Hollywood (90028), and South Central (90001) on NeighborScore.

Bottom Line: Beverly Hills (90210) leads Los Angeles's analyzed ZIP codes at 82/100, powered by the highest school score (91) in NeighborScore's pilot dataset and solid crime performance (74). Hollywood scores 62/100, offering mid-tier safety at a $680,000 median home price. South Central scores 41/100 — a below-average rating where even an 88 value score cannot overcome crime and school gaps at the bottom of the range.