| Silver Lake | Los Feliz | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house sale | $1.52M | $2.38M |
| Median condo sale | $806K | $825K |
| Median price per sq ft | $821 | $858 |
| Home styles | 1920s Spanish, Craftsman bungalows and landmark mid-century modern (Neutra, Schindler, Lautner), plus duplexes and small-lot homes | 1920s and 1930s Spanish, Mediterranean and Tudor estates in the hills; Spanish bungalows, duplexes, courtyard buildings and condos in the flats |
| Typical lots and terrain | Mostly hillside, smaller sloped lots, homes stacked up the hill | Big hillside lots north of Los Feliz Blvd, flat streets to the south |
| City | City of Los Angeles | City of Los Angeles |
| Signature streets and anchors | Silver Lake Reservoir and the Meadow, Sunset Junction, historic public stairways | Griffith Park and Observatory, Vermont and Hillhurst Avenues, the Vista Theatre |
| Getting around | Between the 101, the 5 and the 2; no rail station of its own | Metro B Line at Vermont/Sunset and Vermont/Santa Monica; the 5 and the 101 close by |
| Drive times (rough, off-peak) | Downtown often 15 to 20 minutes | Burbank and Glendale often about 15 minutes |
| Weather | Warmer than the coast, cooler than the Valley | Warmer than the coast, cooler than the Valley |
| Eat drink shop highlights | Café Tropical, Night + Market Song, Pine & Crane | Kismet, All Time, Yuca's, Ye Rustic Inn |
Median prices: Redfin Data Center, zip codes 90026 and 90027, March to May 2026. Zip codes don't match neighborhood borders exactly.
The homes
Both neighborhoods have strong 1920s roots, but the housing plays out differently. Silver Lake is built on hills around its reservoir, with Spanish Colonial Revival homes, Craftsman bungalows and some of the most important mid-century modern houses in the country. Richard Neutra, Rudolph Schindler and John Lautner all built here. Lots tend to be smaller, and floor plans often stack up the slope with the garage at the street.
Los Feliz splits in two. North of Los Feliz Boulevard, the hills hold large Spanish, Mediterranean, Tudor and English traditional homes, many on big lots with gated drives, plus landmarks like Frank Lloyd Wright's Ennis House and Neutra's Lovell Health House. South of the boulevard, the flats mix Spanish bungalows, duplexes, courtyard buildings and condos.
Prices
The price figures on this page come from one zip code for each area, and both zips spill past the neighborhood lines. The Silver Lake figures use 90026, which also covers Echo Park, while the Los Feliz figures use 90027, which takes in parts of East Hollywood and the Griffith Park area. Within each, the type of home drives the number: a hillside estate in Los Feliz and a condo in its flats sit at very different points, and in Silver Lake, architecture and views move prices as much as square footage.
The feel
Silver Lake's center is the reservoir, with a path around the water and the Meadow along its east side. Sunset Junction, the stretch of Sunset Boulevard around Sanborn, has coffee shops, restaurants, record stores and bars, and historic public stairways link many hillside streets.
In Los Feliz, Griffith Park starts at the top of the neighborhood, with more than 4,000 acres of trails, the Observatory and the Greek Theatre. Vermont and Hillhurst Avenues carry the restaurants, bookstores and boutiques, and the 1920s Vista Theatre still shows films.
Getting around
Silver Lake sits between the 101, the 5 and the 2, and Downtown is often 15 to 20 minutes outside rush hour. Hillside streets can be narrow and winding, with tight street parking. Los Feliz has the rail edge: Metro B Line stations at Vermont/Sunset and Vermont/Santa Monica run to Hollywood, Universal City, North Hollywood and Downtown. By car, Burbank and Glendale are often about 15 minutes away off-peak, and streets toward the Observatory and the Greek get busy on weekends and concert nights.
City and rules
Both are in the City of Los Angeles, so the same framework applies: City of LA permits, hillside regulations that can limit home size and additions, and rent stabilization on many pre-1978 multi-unit buildings. Parts of both fall in fire hazard severity zones, especially Los Feliz streets bordering Griffith Park, which can affect insurance. Check the specific address on the CAL FIRE maps and get quotes early.
Weather
The weather is close to identical. Both sit a few miles inland, so summers run warmer than at the beach and milder than in the Valley. Expect warm, dry summers and mild winters in both, with good AC worth checking on any home you consider.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between Silver Lake and Los Feliz?
Silver Lake is mostly hillside streets around a reservoir, with a strong mid-century modern legacy and smaller lots. Los Feliz has larger 1920s and 1930s estates in the hills below Griffith Park and a flat, denser area of bungalows, duplexes and condos south of Los Feliz Boulevard.
Which is closer to Downtown LA, Silver Lake or Los Feliz?
Silver Lake sits a little closer, and Downtown is often 15 to 20 minutes away outside rush hour. Los Feliz is just north and west, and it also has Metro B Line stations on Vermont with direct trains to Downtown.
Are Silver Lake and Los Feliz in the City of Los Angeles?
Yes. Both are neighborhoods within the City of Los Angeles, so permits, hillside building rules and rent stabilization on many pre-1978 multi-unit buildings follow City of LA rules in each.
