Known as one of Los Angeles’ family-friendly towns, Brentwood has become a sought-after neighborhood. Learn more about living in Brentwood in our guide.
Los Angeles is a massive sprawl of a city, encompassing 469 square miles with a population of over 3.9 million residents, quickly trending toward 4 million. As with any city, the heart of L.A. is in its people, which comprises a broad and diverse range of demographics rooted in a rich history that only exists in Los Angeles.
Brentwood is one of the fixtures of the city, with modern development starting in the 1880s. The neighborhood has gone through plenty of changes and evolutions over the years, and it still remains an alluring place to live, especially for newcomers. Learn more about living in Brentwood and why we consider it to be one of the best neighborhoods in Los Angeles.
The Brentwood area is located in the Westside of Los Angeles, tucked between Santa Monica and Westwood. Still, Brentwood remains one of the most affluent neighborhoods in Los Angeles County. At nearly 16 square miles, Brentwood is home to about 44,000 residents. Compare that to the city of Beverly Hills, which is 5.71 square miles with a population of about 34,000 residents.
In terms of residential buildings, Brentwood comprises a mix of single-family homes and apartment complexes. As an affluent neighborhood, the typical median home value is over $1.44 million, while the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is about $2,100. These values are much higher than the national average, though they are typical of what the rest of Los Angeles has to offer.
Traversing the housing market in Brentwood and the Greater Los Angeles Area can be daunting and confusing. It can come with plenty of difficulties and questions that the Internet just might not have all the answers for. The Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties team is here to help in every way that we can. Our agents have the experience and insight to guide you through every step of the process so that one of the Brentwood homes you have been looking at can become yours.
The population in Brentwood comprises a fairly wide age range, from families with children to college students and recent graduates. Brentwood offers several public, private, and charter schools to accommodate kids, all offering excellent programs in academics and extracurricular activities.
Public schools in the surrounding area include:
Private schools in the Brentwood neighborhood include:
The proximity of freeways and the inherent commuter nature of Southern California mean that Brentwood residents have easy access to events and activities in downtown Los Angeles and other neighborhoods in the city. However, Brentwood offers a unique mix of eateries, shops, and cultural venues that make it easy for residents to spend all their time in their own neighborhood. While other Westside neighborhoods tend to be only residential or only have some smaller retail offerings, Brentwood has a surprisingly large mix of just about everything you could need.
One of Los Angeles’ true treasures, the Getty is a beacon of curiosity and engagement with art and cultural heritage. The outer buildings and architecture that make up the campus were designed by Richard Meier and offer an incredible mix of contrasts, from sharp edges and curves to natural and modern elements.
The campus itself houses several different offices and programs, all with the goal of furthering the appreciation of and engagement with art in numerous forms and media. The highlight for most visitors is the J. Paul Getty Museum, which includes an expansive collection of paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, and other art pieces from pre-20th century Europe, along with 20th century American and European photos. The museum also features a rotating selection of visiting exhibitions. All of this is housed in a large, three-floor base building with five two-story towers on the base.
The Getty Research Institute (GRI) offers two public exhibitions each year, focusing on work produced by an artist in residence or special collections in the research library. The GRI also publishes its own books and produces electronic publications. Visitors have access to the GRI’s massive research library, which houses over 1 million books, periodicals, and catalogs, along with special collections and over 2 million photographs featuring art and architecture.
The Getty Conservation Institute provides scientific research, training, education, and field projects surrounding the conservation of art and architecture.
Outside, the Getty features several gardens. The Central Garden comprises 134,000 square feet of over 500 different plant varieties combined with incredible sights, sounds, and smells. The Cactus Garden in the East and West Pavilions features a variety of succulents, cacti, and other plants native to the California desert. Two sculpture gardens (the Lower Terrace Sculpture Garden and Fran and Ray Stark Sculpture Garden) feature some incredible outdoor sculpture work that uses the views of L.A. as a perfect backdrop.
For food and refreshments, the Getty offers two coffee carts, the Garden Terrace Café, and a full-service restaurant simply known as The Restaurant. To increase the intimacy, consider taking a snack and drink to go and finding a seat in any of the gardens.
The Getty also hosts concerts and live performances throughout the year, so keep your eyes peeled for any upcoming events.
The Skirball Cultural Center is an educational institution and museum dedicated to exploring Jewish culture and heritage, as well as American democratic ideals. The Skirball Museum predates the cultural center and includes a collection of over 30,000 objects, ranging from works of fine art to early archaeological artifacts from biblical and historical periods, all recording the history, experiences, and accomplishments of Jews through more than 4,000 years of history.
The Noah’s Ark exhibit is a popular attraction at the museum. Occupying a gallery of 8,000 square feet, the exhibit allows visitors to explore a floor-to-ceiling wooden ark filled with whimsical, handcrafted animals constructed from everyday objects and recycled materials. Special activities are interspersed, including singalongs, story time, and a movement-and-dance piece.
Originally opening in Northern California in 1989, Diesel is now a neighborhood favorite in Brentwood, upholding hip, trendy aesthetics without sacrificing friendly customer service and an exhaustive selection of literature. From cookbooks to modern fiction to contemporary poetry, Diesel has just about everything you could ever need in book form. The bookstore also hosts reading events featuring a diverse array of writers and guests from the literary world.
Brentwood Country Mart is the go-to place for all of your shopping needs. Covering 30,000 square feet, the local shopping village opened in 1948, complete with red boards to create the barnhouse aesthetic that continues to this day. Along with Diesel above, the shopping center hosts over 20 boutique shops and eateries that can satisfy all tastes. Caffe Luxxe serves up some of the best coffee and pastries in the city, while Farmshop offers hearty dishes made with high-quality, local ingredients alongside an artisanal market full of foodstuffs for the perfect picnic. Finish it all off with a trip to Sweet Rose Creamery, where Chef Shiho creates new ice cream flavors every day based on what she finds at the farmers market.
It’s probably no surprise that Brentwood also happens to be an amazing neighborhood for restaurants, eateries, cafes, and bars. The list continues to grow and change, but rest assured that it’s not hard to find a great place to enjoy a cocktail or get a stick-to-your-ribs meal. Some local favorites include:
Brentwood is a great space for newcomers or longtime L.A .residents looking for a change of pace. If you have decided to make Brentwood your home, consult with a Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Brentwood agent to help you navigate the process of finding, bidding on, and closing on a property. Navigating real estate can be difficult, but our team offers the local knowledge and professional network to find the dream home that fits your budget and personal needs.
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February 3rd, 2021 at 11:00 am