Whether you just got hired at a new job or you’re still on the job hunt, finding the right neighborhood to live in Los Angeles is crucial. Perhaps you’re interested in living in a neighborhood that offers convenient access to freeways for commuting, or maybe you just want to be close to your office. In a city that’s as large as LA, there are hundreds of diverse neighborhoods for homebuyers to choose from. With all these factors in mind, here’s a list of LA neighborhoods near popular centers of employment. Most of these neighborhoods are pedestrian- and transit-friendly, with have great dining options and amenities. 

Here are the best LA neighborhoods to live in if you want to be close to your job.

Culver City — Entertainment and Production

Residential buildings in Culver City neighborhood

The founder and creator of Culver City was a Nebraska-born real estate developer named Harry H. Culver, who often referred to the city as “The Heart of Screenland.” Since the 1920’s, Culver City has grown to become a major player in the entertainment industry, and it’s known as the center for film and television production. With such a rich history—and not to mention, notable restaurants as well as easily-accessible public transit—it’s no wonder why studio and production professionals flock to this area. Culver City is home to several well-known production studios, including Sony Pictures Studios, Culver Studios, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, and very recently—Amazon Studios. So if you’re a homebuyer looking to live in a community where classic movies such as “Gone With the Wind”or “The Wizard of Oz”were filmed, check out Culver City.

Santa Monica — Technology

Residential buildings in Santa Monica neighborhood

Move aside Silicon Valley, and make way for Silicon Beach. For those who don’t know what Silicon Beach is, just think about the beach, trendy bars, a cycling-friendly atmosphere, and a bunch of tech companies. Santa Monica is popular for its landmarks, attractions, recreational parks, and the Santa Monica Pier. Today, it’s also known for being the heart of Silicon Beach. With its scenic views and close proximity to LAX airport, it’s no surprise why startups and tech companies want to settle in this area. Some of the most well-known tech companies in Santa Monica include Hulu, PatientPop, Headspace, and dozens more. Also, we can’t forget that this is where the Bird scooter craze originally started.

Downtown Los Angeles — Finance and Business

Residential buildings in Downtown Los Angeles

Before all the crane action from the development boom, Downtown Los Angeles was mainly known as a sleepy neighborhood after work hours. During the day however, it was a bustling district—home to many financial companies and businesses. Developers saw the district’s potential to become a thriving live, work, and play neighborhood, and that pretty much sparked the beginning of DTLA’s development boom. Over the past decade, the city of LA has made a clear effort to activate the area by building gated communities, eye-catching museums, and more transit- and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.

Beverlywood — Medical and Law

Typical home in Los Angeles

Home to many medical facilities and law offices is the tranquil community of Beverlywood, which sits adjacent to the famous neighborhood of Beverly Hills. Since there are several urgent cares, hospitals, and law offices surrounding the quaint neighborhood, it’s only natural that professionals who work in these industries live nearby. If you’re interested in purchasing a home near these industries, you might want to look into living in Beverlywood where the median home sale price is just over $1.4 million, according to Neighborhoods.com data.