Why Culver City Stands Out From Other LA Neighborhoods (2024)

Tucked between Los Angeles and Santa Monica, Culver City, CA, has undergone a serious transformation over the past decade. These days, Culver City is hopping with premiere art galleries, funky coffee shops, and trendy neighborhoods. Still home to Sony Picture Studios, Culver City retains its old Hollywood glamor while attracting young professionals and families with its walkable downtown, great schools, and artistic flair.

Are you moving to Los Angeles? Learn what makes Culver City such a unique LA neighborhood.

Central Location

If you live and work in Los Angeles, location is everything. If you get too far outside the city, your commute can turn into a serious time vacuum. Culver City, CA, is roughly 10 miles west of downtown Los Angeles. It’s also next door to Santa Monica, Ladera Heights, and Inglewood, using the I-10 and I-405.

The Culver City Metro also offers residents an excellent way to get around without a car.

Not a huge fan of a commute? Culver City offers some of the best entertainment jobs in LA. Sony Picture Studios includes Columbia Pictures and TriStar, while the city is also home to the NFL Network and NPR West.

Culver City Is Great for Families

There’s a reason that families are flocking to Culver City. Niche rates this LA neighborhood as the eighth-best suburb in Los Angeles. It also gets an A-plus for schools, including

nearby High Tech Los Angeles, Da Vinci Science, and Downtown Magnets High School. There are also many private schools for all ages in Culver City.

Is Culver City safe? Like all large suburbs, there are safer and less safe parts of the city. Your real estate agent can help you determine which neighborhoods within Culver City offer the right balance between safety, amenities, and budget.

Finally, there is plenty of family fun to be had in Culver City. On the weekends, families fill Culver City Park, which offers basketball courts, hiking trails, a skate park, and picnic areas. If your kids are interested in old Hollywood, take them on a tour of Sony Studios, where they can see where movies like “The Wizard of Oz,” “Singing in the Rain,” and “Ben-Hur” were filmed. For a cool family trip that’s also educational, visit STAR Eco Station, an environmental science museum and exotic wildlife rescue facility that offers tours on the weekends.

Outdoor Activities

Wondering what else there is to do in Culver City? That’s easy! Culver City weather is gorgeous nearly year-round, which means you can enjoy fun under the sun almost every day. Take a bike ride along the beach on the Ballona Creek Bike Path, or if you’d rather stay on your feet, hike to the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, where you can enjoy vast views of downtown Culver City.

Although Culver City isn’t right next to the beach, you’re not far from the sand and sun. Head over to nearby Venice Beach or Santa Monica to hit the waves, people-watch, and check out the boardwalks.

Nightlife and Restaurants

There’s still plenty to do when the sun sets: Culver City restaurants are numerous and run the gamut from extremely upscale to delicious hole-in-the-wall joints. For a special celebration, try Juliet and enjoy its contemporary Parisian menu. Another great option is EK Valley, famous for its Oaxacan cuisine. (Just look for the neon orange building.) Want something more casual? The burgers at Father’s Office are worth the wait!

Once you’ve sampled your new favorite Culver City restaurants, make your way to Bar & Garden for a wide range of drinking options, including wines, liqueurs, and ales. If you want to stick with craft brews, The Stalking Horse Brewery should be right up your alley. For specialty co*cktails and 20 rotation taps, City Tavern is the place to go.

If you’re still not done, check out a show at the Kirk Douglas Theatre or see if The Actor’s Gang is putting on a performance at Ivy Substation.

Price Self Storage Can Help You Store Your Valuables in Culver City

Culver City, CA, is a one-of-a-kind place and an excellent choice if you’re moving to the LA metro area. However, housing prices can be high, so you might need to settle for a house or apartment smaller than those in other areas of the country. If that’s the case, keep the rest of your valuables at Price Self Storage.

Our facility in Culver City is located just off the I-10 and offers small, medium, and large storage units. Need a unit for a short time while you figure out your move? No problem — our month-to-month contracts give you ultimate flexibility. Put a no-obligation hold on a storage unit today!

Why Culver City Stands Out From Other LA Neighborhoods (2024)

FAQs

What is special about Culver City? ›

In the 1920s, the city became a center for film and later television production, best known as the home of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios from 1924 to 1986.

Is Culver City, CA a good place to live? ›

Culver City is a suburb of Los Angeles with a population of 40,357. Culver City is in Los Angeles County and is one of the best places to live in California. Living in Culver City offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents own their homes.

Can you live in Culver City without a car? ›

Culver City, CA, is roughly 10 miles west of downtown Los Angeles. It's also next door to Santa Monica, Ladera Heights, and Inglewood, using the I-10 and I-405. The Culver City Metro also offers residents an excellent way to get around without a car.

What is the nickname of Culver City? ›

Culver City is a city on the Westside of Los Angeles County. It was given the moniker the "Heart of Screenland" during the 1930s and 1940s when it was responsible for half of America's motion picture production; today it remains home to Sony Studios (formerly MGM Studios) and Culver Studios.

Is it expensive to live in Culver City? ›

As part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, Culver City could be considered an expensive place to live for anyone unfamiliar with California costs. The cost of living in Culver City is 74% higher than the national average. However, Culver City is more affordable than other areas of the LA metro, such as Santa Monica.

What are the sister cities of Culver City? ›

The mission of the Culver City Sister City Committee is to: Cultivate and maintain relationships with our four sister cities; Kaizuka, Japan; Uruapan, Mexico; Iksan, South Korea; and Lethbridge, Canada.

What is a good salary in Culver City? ›

Average Salary in Culver City, CA. $47,402 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $84,669 is the 75th percentile.

Is Culver City a wealthy area? ›

Compare that to the national average of 21.84% for all cities and towns. The per capita income in Culver City in 2018 was $75,245, which is wealthy relative to California and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $300,980 for a family of four.

Is Culver City considered West LA? ›

The cities of Beverly Hills, Culver City, Malibu, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood are all on the Westside, as are many of L.A.'s best known communities including Bel Air, Brentwood, Century City, Hollywood, Marina Del Rey, the Miracle Mile, Pacific Palisades, Playa Vista, Venice, and Westwood.

Does Culver City have a homeless problem? ›

There are an estimated 261 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in Culver City, according to the 2023 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count.

Is Culver City safe in 2024? ›

Safety: Fairly residential, Culver City is considered safe. Walkability: Culver City has a decent walkability score (73) but it's not as pedestrian-friendly as some other LA neighborhoods.

Is Culver City walkable? ›

Summary. Oakland, Culver City, and San Fernando are some of the most walkable cities in California, with walking scores of 75, 76, and 79, respectively.

Why move to Culver City? ›

As part of the Los Angeles metro area, living in Culver City means you'll be near a vibrant shopping and dining scene, all within easy walking distance from homes and apartments. California is known for its gorgeous, sunny weather, and Culver City is no exception. Residents enjoy nearly 280 sunny days a year here.

Why is Culver City famous? ›

Culver City has, since the 1920s, been a center of movie and TV production and today is best known as the location of MGM movie studios, National Public Radio West, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and the NFL Network.

How far is Culver City from the beach? ›

Just a quick 15-minute drive from Culver City is the family-friendly Marina Del Rey Beach.

Is Culver City worth visiting? ›

From thrilling excursions to impressive tourist attractions, this alluring small city packs a sightseeing punch.

What shows are filmed in Culver City? ›

DeMille, Louis B. Mayer, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Popular shows such as Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune and Master Chef are still being filmed today. In addition to the rich film history of Culver City, the area is also home to a variety of entertainment networks including NPR and the NFL Network.

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