Population 42,510 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Mar Vista
Household size in Mar Vista
| Period | Mar Vista | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.37 | 3.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.26 | 3.01 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | −0.13 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Mar Vista is a place of small households, averaging 2.26 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Households are largest in the west and smallest in the east.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Mar Vista
| Period | Mar Vista | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.9 | 35.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.0 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.9 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.4 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.4 | +4.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
At 40.4, the median age in Mar Vista is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 37.9 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the northeast, the oldest in the west.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Mar Vista
| Period | Mar Vista | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 14.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 14.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 12.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.9% of households in Mar Vista, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 0.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Mar Vista
Renters in Mar Vista
| Period | Mar Vista | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.3% | 48.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 58.9% | 50.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 60.2% | 51.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 59.1% | 51.6% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Mar Vista rent: 59.1% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 35.3% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southeast and least common in the west.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Mar Vista
| Period | Mar Vista | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.3% | 6.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Mar Vista: 6.5% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The Los Angeles area as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 1.0 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Mar Vista
| Period | Mar Vista | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1962 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Mar Vista is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1964, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1961 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the southwest.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Mar Vista
| Period | Mar Vista | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,401 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,537 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,949 | $1,755 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,506 | $2,279 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,104 | +$951 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in Mar Vista runs $2,506 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,104 a month since 2006–10, up 79%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 31.2% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the west and lowest in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Mar Vista
Bachelor's degrees in Mar Vista
| Period | Mar Vista | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.3% | 29.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 53.2% | 30.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 58.4% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 64.1% | 37.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.8 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Mar Vista is highly educated: nearly two-thirds of adults 25 and older (64.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 14.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Mar Vista
| Period | Mar Vista | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.6% | 76.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.8% | 77.7% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.2% | 80.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.5% | 82.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Mar Vista is above the national rate: 93.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.9 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Mar Vista
| Period | Mar Vista | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.6% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 10.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Mar Vista: 6.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is up 1.1 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Mar Vista compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar Vista | 2.26 | 40.4 | 6.9% | 59.1% | 6.5% | 1964 | $2,506 | 64.1% | 93.5% | 6.7% |
| Clarkdale | 2.92 | 34.4 | 15.6% | 63.4% | 7.0% | 1967 | $2,340 | 44.0% | 76.3% | 4.5% |
| Playa Vista | 2.24 | 38.2 | 6.7% | 59.4% | 8.8% | 1972 | $2,531 | 56.5% | 88.3% | 4.5% |
| Palms | 1.99 | 34.7 | 5.0% | 86.1% | 9.1% | 1974 | $2,347 | 68.7% | 94.0% | 6.0% |
| Jefferson | 1.89 | 46.9 | 4.0% | 30.3% | 3.1% | 1974 | $2,808 | 73.5% | 97.5% | 11.0% |
| Sawtelle | 1.92 | 35.3 | 4.7% | 79.3% | 10.1% | 1975 | $2,594 | 71.5% | 95.1% | 6.8% |
| West Los Angeles | 2.44 | 40.5 | 5.3% | 51.3% | 11.4% | 1961 | $2,777 | 74.2% | 96.7% | 6.7% |
| Fox Hills | 2.14 | 41.5 | 5.2% | 43.6% | 8.0% | 1966 | $2,849 | 63.1% | 97.5% | 7.3% |
| Century City | 1.94 | 51.1 | 4.2% | 42.4% | 11.9% | 1973 | $3,078 | 78.5% | 98.3% | 5.2% |
| Playa del Ray | 2.02 | 42.4 | 3.2% | 55.6% | 8.6% | 1972 | $2,876 | 70.4% | 98.2% | 6.4% |
| Westchester | 2.32 | 38.7 | 6.6% | 54.9% | 13.1% | 1973 | $2,968 | 66.1% | 96.9% | 6.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Wrigley, Long Beach, CA · South Lawndale, Chicago, IL · South Shore, Chicago, IL · East Side, Long Beach, CA · St Charles, Waldorf, MD · Sugar House, Salt Lake City, UT · Sycamore, Fort Worth, TX · Valley High-North Laguna, Sacramento, CA · La Sierra, Riverside, CA · Charleston Heights, Las Vegas, NV
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Mar Vista. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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