Sunset Park
Prewar bungalows and postwar ranch-style homes
Sunset Park has a broad mix of housing, including single-family homes, condos and townhouses, and multifamily units. The inventory of single-family homes was built primarily before 1939, though building continued through the ‘50s. Architectural styles include prewar bungalows and postwar ranch-style homes. There are some classic homes with Spanish influence and more contemporary homes on fill-in lots. “When people are moving to Sunset Park, they’re looking for a home with a yard and quiet streets,” Lumer says. Homes range in price from around $1.9 million for a small three-bedroom with just over 1,000 square feet to upward of $5 million for something spacious and contemporary. Condos and townhomes cost between $800,000 and $1.8 million, while multifamily units list between $1.5 million and $3.6 million.
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Restaurants popping up on Ocean Park Boulevard
Some restaurants along Pico Boulevard cater to students at Santa Monica College, but Ocean Park Boulevard is a more prominent business district. “There’s been a nice bump in the commercial here. In the last three or four years, they’ve added some great restaurants,” Lumer says. “Layla Bagels is one of the best spots in LA; there’s a 30-minute line there on the weekends, and it’s all over Eater and super trendy.” Ghisallo is a casual Italian place — no white tablecloths and tuxedos — that’s got great pasta and pizza. They also do to-go sandwiches and slices. DOG PPL is a social club where owners of well-trained and thoroughly vetted pups gather and enjoy the vibe. There is a beautiful dog park with benches and a coffee shop, and they provide umbrellas and sunscreen or blankets when it’s cold. “This creates such a fun community of dog owners. People who are members go every day to meet new friends and network,” Lumer says. For stocking up on groceries, there is family-owned and operated Bob's Market, which specializes in gourmet meat, wine and cheese.
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A year-round farmers market and a slate of seasonal events
From year-round farmers markets to comedy shows to seasonal events, Santa Monica maintains an active community calendar. MAINopoly: Taste of Main Street, a culinary walking tour in the spring, is an interactive event that mirrors the classic board game. In the summer, Sunset Swims are adult-only pool sessions in the evenings at Annenberg Community Beach House. Americana in the Park showcases a diverse group of Southern California artists each fall. Main Street Holiday Festivities in December include a tree lighting at the California Heritage Museum, festive events held by store owners and a candlelit walk to the famous Shopping Cart Tree.
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Highly rated schools have bigtime appeal to buyers
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified is one of the best school districts in greater Los Angeles, with an A-plus grade from Niche. The school district and teachers are in the top 5% of all California schools, according to Niche. “The schools have a big appeal to buyers in this area. There’s something nice about the walkability: quiet streets, kids playing out front, and then can you walk them to school,” Lumer says. Grant Elementary School also gets an A-plus, while John Adams Middle School gets an A. Known for celebrity alums like Robert Downey Jr., Sean Penn and Rob Lowe, Santa Monica High School is graded A-plus. The school’s Renaissance program uses recognition, rewards, incentives and celebrations to promote achievement. The program is highly recognized by colleges and universities in the U.S.Santa Monica College is located in Sunset Park. The public community college enrolls over 30,000 students in over 90 academic areas of study. The school is mostly commuters, so there isn't a big student presence in the neighborhood. SMC has 17 sports teams that have won championships and produced Olympians like Isaac Bruce, Lenny Krayzelburg, and Evan Lysacek.
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Blocks from the beach and a booming golf club
Outdoor access is what Southern California is all about, and Sunset Park is only blocks from Santa Monica Beach, an iconic 3.5-mile stretch with a promenade, pier and an amusement park. The neighborhood has pocket parks like Marine Park and Clover Park, and more expansive offerings like Virginia Avenue Park and Memorial Park just beyond Pico Boulevard. Dogs are allowed at Marine Park, which features an auditorium, picnic areas, lighted fields and courts, and a playground for kids to enjoy. Penmar Golf Course is a nine-hole, par-33 executive course offering lessons and a putting green. “For many years, this was an unremarkable city course, but a few years ago, a new operating group took over, and they put in an amazing restaurant,” Lumer says. “It’s created a nice little bump in social activity for the area. The neighborhood really needed something like that. Penmar hosts events with live music, sometimes with stands and vendors.
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Local congestion and easy access to LAX
Sunset Park is about 15 miles west of Los Angeles, a drive that can take almost an hour during unpredictable rush hours. Downtown Santa Monica is much closer — just under 3 miles via 20th Street. The neighborhood is partially bordered by I-10, and Lincoln and Ocean Park boulevards are the main thoroughfares. Stop-and-go traffic at red lights is standard on the four-lane boulevards. The 10 is elevated and a few blocks outside Sunset Park, so highway noise isn't a big issue. Santa Monica Airport is in the neighborhood, but most residents fly out of Los Angeles International. LAX is just 14 miles south via I-405, but plan for an hour's drive, depending on the time of day. UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center is about 2 miles away via Cloverfield Boulevard. For those who rely on public transportation, there are bus routes operated by Big Blue Bus.The future of the Santa Monica Airport
Once a concern for homebuyers in Sunset Park, traffic at the Santa Monica Airport has dwindled over the years, and in a few years, there won’t be any planes at all. “I sell houses all around the airport, and the noise is minimal because the planes are so small. There are no jets; it’s only private planes, and there aren’t many of them,” Lumer says. Looking ahead, the city plans to convert the 227-acre property into a “Great Park” after the airport closes in 2029. “This is going to be a huge, sprawling recreational area with everything you could ever want in a park, including restaurants,” Lumer says. “This will be a huge game-changer for the neighborhood because property values will skyrocket.”
Written By
Amber Steinmetz-Cole
Photography Contributed By
Kalina Mondzholovska
Video By
Melinda Anselmo
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Stephanie Payab
Stephanie Payab
Responds QuicklyBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
(818) 412-8595
51 Total Sales
1 in Sunset Park
$1,049,000 Price
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Stacy Blair Young
Stacy Blair Young
Douglas Elliman of California, Inc.
(424) 363-7063
78 Total Sales
2 in Sunset Park
$1.3M - $1.9M Price Range
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Sebastian Wolski
Sebastian Wolski
Compass
(747) 246-7875
48 Total Sales
1 in Sunset Park
$4,399,000 Price
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Rick Ojeda
Rick Ojeda
Carolwood Estates
(424) 499-2867
43 Total Sales
1 in Sunset Park
$1,930,000 Price
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Charles Fisher
Charles Fisher
Estate Properties
(424) 405-4783
140 Total Sales
2 in Sunset Park
$593K - $2.5M Price Range
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Victoria Massengale
Victoria Massengale
Compass
(626) 788-8207
48 Total Sales
1 in Sunset Park
$1,503,000 Price
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
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Airport Park
- Dog Park
- Picnic Area
- Playground
Clover Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Grills
- Picnic Area
Penmar Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Football
Marine Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
Ozone Park
Virginia Avenue Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Sunset Park | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 4 |
| Burglary | 5 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Sunset Park Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Sunset Park, Santa Monica sell after 24 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Sunset Park, Santa Monica over the last 12 months is $325,000, up 10% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$385,000
Median Sale Price
$325,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$460,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$325,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$323,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
91
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
10%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$334
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
3,670
Number of Homes for Sale
18
Median Year Built
1944
Months of Supply
2.40
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,857
On par with the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,442
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,300
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
660
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,534
Open Houses
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Tuesday, Jul 2911am - 2pm
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Sunday, Aug 32 - 5pm
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Saturday, Aug 22 - 5pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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$1,795 per month
- Ocean Park Boulevard
- Studio
- 1 Bath
- 375 Sq Ft
- 1717-1723 Ocean Park Blvd
- Santa Monica, CA
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$2,895 - $3,995 per month
- Ocean Park Apartments
- 1-2 Beds
- 1-2 Baths
- 850+ Sq Ft
- 1128 Ocean Park Blvd
- Santa Monica, CA
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
14,445
Median Age
44
Population Density
13 ppl/acre
Population under 18
19.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
21.2%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$121,708
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$149,971
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
93.6%
College Graduates
67.6%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
27%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
68.8%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
12''
Average Winter Low Temperature
49°F
Average Summer High Temperature
70°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score®
96
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
79
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
45
/ 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.
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Ocean Park
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