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Chinatown

Chinatown

Urban Core Neighborhood in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles County 90012

Neighborhood Reviews
4.1
$804,398 Average Value
$452 Average Price per Sq Ft
8 Homes For Sale

A longstanding hub of Chinese culture

Los Angeles’ Chinatown is one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, first developed in the 19th century by immigrants who came from China to build the first transcontinental railroad. The neighborhood evokes their homeland with red lanterns festooned over alleyways and eye-catching pagoda-like structures painted bright red, including elaborate Taoist temples. Chinatown remains a community hub and popular tourist attraction due to the development of its Central Plaza, a destination for historical landmarks, cultural events and authentic Chinese restaurants. Its enviable location is renowned for walkability to downtown LA and Little Toyko. “When you think of LA, you think of driving and not walking. Being able to walk everywhere — we really enjoy it,” says Realtor Chana Firestone, who works with Compass and has been a resident of the neighborhood for over a decade.

Stroll along the vibrant streets of Chinatown and soak in the colors.
Stroll along the vibrant streets of Chinatown and soak in the colors.
Chinatown Central Plaza attracts a high volume of tourist traffic.
Chinatown Central Plaza attracts a high volume of tourist traffic.
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Central Plaza restaurants and more

From traditional Sichuan restaurants to hotpot eateries, one of the biggest attractions of the neighborhood is its authentic cuisine. “There’s Golden Dragon, which has been around forever. All the elderly Chinese people go for brunch and stay for hours talking and hanging out,” Firestone says. “It’s a good gathering place and has really good dim sum.” Queen’s Bakery is also a mainstay of the neighborhood, selling Chinese pastries and cakes. At Central Plaza, galleries, herbal shops and antique stores converge for a vibrant shopping experience. To find Asian groceries, residents can stop by Far East Center, which has products from teas to candies. People can also stroll over to cultural attractions like the Chinese American Museum, the Taoist Thien Hau Temple and the statues of Bruce Lee and Sun Yat-sen, founder of the Republic of China.

All the elderly Chinese people go for brunch in Golden Dragon.
All the elderly Chinese people go for brunch in Golden Dragon.
Queen's Bakery selling Chinese pastries and cakes.
Queen's Bakery selling Chinese pastries and cakes.
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Cultural events and a night market

The Chinatown Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is a centuries old celebration that offers mooncake samplings, live music and traditional Chinese performances. For another community event, residents can go to Chinatown Summer Nights, which has cooking demonstrations, food trucks and dancing in Central Plaza. Locals can also check out LAX-C, a new night market with a wholesale Thai goods. “It’s bringing a lot of people in the community. The food stands have authentic Thai food, and I've been going every week. It’s fun trying different foods,” Firestone says.

Walkable commutes and plentiful public transportation

Chinatown enjoys easy access to downtown LA, many office buildings only a mile away for breezy commutes. “My husband works downtown and he's able to walk to work,” Firestone says. Two train lines, the LA Metro and Metrolink’s San Bernardino Line have stations in the neighborhood, as well as five bus lines. “It’s great to hop on the Metro and walk over to the Crypto.com Arena,” Firestone says. Daily errands in the walkable neighborhood don’t require a car, but drivers can get around easily on the 110, 101 and 5 freeways. “We can easily hop in our car and get out of the city. It’s such a great location,” Firestone says. For further travel, residents can schedule flights at the nearby Hollywood Burbank Airport.

Board the train at Chinatown Metro Station for your commute.
Board the train at Chinatown Metro Station for your commute.
Chinatown has five bus lines in the neighborhood.
Chinatown has five bus lines in the neighborhood.
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Condos, townhouses and traditional Chinese architecture

Dense, urban Chinatown doesn’t have many single-family homes, and most of them are packed on the west side of the neighborhood on small lots with little greenery. Most residents are renters, and only 6% are homeowners. The limited market is due to tradition: “Families give to the next generation and don’t sell. There’s less turnover in Chinatown than in other neighborhoods. My house was in the same family for [decades]. I'm never selling it. I love the neighborhood,” Firestone says. Architecture-wise, Chinatown’s buildings were designed as a blend of traditional Chinese and 20th-century American trends: brightly colored houses with ornamentation, overhanging eaves and decorative arches. The neighborhood also has condos, Spanish-style homes and townhouses. Sales prices range from $590,000 for a condo to $1.15 million for a contemporary townhouse.

Condominium in Chinatown
Condominium in Chinatown
Yale Street great example of residential part of Chinatown.
Yale Street great example of residential part of Chinatown.
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A state park and a pocket park

Chinatown residents and LA tourists both flock to the Los Angeles State Historic Park, a green space ideal for strolls on tree-lined paths featuring views of the downtown skyline. As a community hub, the park also hosts music festivals, movie screenings and a weekly farmers market. One of the newest green spaces is Ord and Yale Street Park, which opened in 2021. The pocket park features a colorfully painted staircase leading to panoramic vistas over Chinatown, play areas for children and exercise equipment. Residents should be alert when out and about, since the neighborhood has an 8 out of 10 CAP Index score, much higher than the national average score of 4. The larceny score is particularly high.

Los Angeles State Historic Park is a popular destination in Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles State Historic Park is a popular destination in Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA.
Gathering circle at Albion riverside park
Gathering circle at Albion riverside park
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Los Angeles Unified Schools

Students in the area go to the Los Angeles Unified School District, which earns a B-plus rating according to Niche. Schools include Castelar Elementary School, Florence Nightingale Middle School and Belmont High School. The elementary school has a B-plus rating, the middle school earns a B, and the high school has a B-minus. Castelar Elementary, founded in 1882, is one of the oldest public schools in Los Angeles and offers a Mandarin Dual Language Program. Another notable public school is the Ramón C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts, known as “VAPA” or “Grand Arts,” a sculptural architectural landmark located on Grand Avenue.

The dragon mural at Castelar Elementary greets students as they enter.
The dragon mural at Castelar Elementary greets students as they enter.
Belmont Senior High School
Public High School
Westlake District, Los Angeles CA.
Belmont Senior High School Public High School Westlake District, Los Angeles CA.
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Anna Anderson
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Anna Anderson
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Mary Desmond

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood? Reach out to Stepan Steve Boyadzhyan, an experienced agent in this area.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Bob Hope

22 min drive

Subway

Chinatown Station

Bus

Cesar E Chavez & Broadway

Bus

Centennial & Alpine St.

Bus

College & Hill St

Bus

Main & College

Bus

Alameda & College

Bus

Broadway & Alpine

Bus

Vignes & Main

Reviews

Niche Reviews
4.1 4 Reviews
4.0 Current Resident
8/17/2022 Niche Review
Chinatown is a small quiet corner of Los Angeles. Great for small venues, local shops with friendly people all around. Lots of night life with festivals that occur almost every month.
Are you familiar with the Chinatown neighborhood? to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Chinatown US
Homicide 5 4
Sexual Assault 7 4
Assault with Weapon 7 4
Robbery 8 4
Burglary 6 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 9 4
Larceny 9 4
Crime Score 8 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$580,000
Median Single Family Price
$1,075,000
Median Townhouse Price
$1,000,000
Median 2 Bedroom Price
$498,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$452
Number of Homes for Sale
8
Last 12 months Home Sales
17
Months of Supply
5.60
Median List Price
$599,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
3%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-12%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
391
Median Year Built
1980
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,125
Above the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,441
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
993
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
800
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
4,356

Open Houses

  • Sunday, Apr 27
    2:30 - 4:30pm

    630 N Grand Ave Unit 402, Los Angeles, CA 90012

    $548,000

    • 2 Beds
    • 2 Baths
    • 847 Sq Ft
    • 630 N Grand Ave
    • Unit 402
    • New 28 days ago

    This beautifully remodeled 2-bed, 2-bath condo is ideally situated just one block north of Disney Hall and Grand Park! A recently installed central A/C and heating system, complete with a digital thermostat, ensures year-round comfort. The spacious primary bedroom features a generous walk-in closet and an en-suite bathroom with ample storage and counter space. The versatile second bedroom is

    Ricky McDaniel eXp Realty of California Inc

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  • Sunday, Apr 27
    2:30 - 4:30pm

    630 N Grand Ave Unit 408, Los Angeles, CA 90012

    $498,000

    • 2 Beds
    • 2 Baths
    • 841 Sq Ft
    • 630 N Grand Ave
    • Unit 408

    Charming 2 Bed / 2 Bath Unit Is Conveniently Located Just A Block North Of Disney Hall And Grand Park!! Central A/C & Heating Was Recently Installed W/Nest Thermostat. The Spacious Primary Bedroom Includes A Large Walk-In Closet & En-Suite Bathroom W/ Plenty Of Counter Space & Storage. The Second Bedroom Can Welcome Guests Or Double As A Home Office W/ Built-In Desk. Relaxing Balcony Extends From

    Charles Le Beverly Hills Fabulous Estates Inc.

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Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood? Reach out to Stepan Steve Boyadzhyan, an experienced agent in this area.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
10,421
Median Age
40
Population Density
18 ppl/acre
Population under 18
18%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
21.3%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$39,085
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$71,089

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
69.8%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
35.5%
Advanced Degrees
10.8%
% Population in Labor Force
62.5%
On par with the national average
65.1%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
14''
Average Winter Low Temperature
48°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
0''

Area Factors

Bikeable

Bike Score®

57 / 100

Walker's Paradise

Walk Score®

96 / 100

Excellent Transit

Transit Score®

88 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Nearby Neighborhoods

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Chinatown