Watts, Los Angeles, CA
Watts at a Glance
Watts is ranked #84 of 104 neighborhoods in Los Angeles with an overall score of 2.5/5. Its standout factor is nearby merchants (4.0/5), at a typical home price of $587k, which Houseberry currently rates as undervalued by about $77,000. It ranks 78th of 104 in Los Angeles for safety. The trade-offs are curb appeal (2.0/5) and schools (2.4/5), though prices run about 49% below the Los Angeles typical home price.
Watts Reviews & Questions
Simon Rodia spent more than three decades building the Watts Towers by hand, and the seventeen spires of steel, mortar and broken tile still rise above the one-story houses around East 107th Street. Houses in Watts are a mix of early 1900s bungalows, midcentury ranch homes and newer builds, and most date to around the 1940s. The biggest change is at Jordan Downs, where the public housing is being redeveloped and a new shopping center, Freedom Plaza, has opened near Alameda Street. Watts Coffee House on East 103rd Street has served soul food since 1997, in the spot tied to the Watts Happening Coffee House arts center of the 1960s, and the walls are covered with memorabilia from that era. Taco trucks and tamale sellers along Wilmington Avenue and 103rd Street round things out. For outdoor time, the 109th Street Recreation Center has lighted fields and a seasonal pool, and Serenity Park and Monitor Skatepark share a site on Monitor Avenue. The Watts Towers grounds are open for guided tours Thursday through Saturday, and the tours are the only way inside the fence. Daily errands center on 103rd Street, with a Food 4 Less and the Alma Reaves Woods Watts Branch Library an easy walk from the A Line's Watts Towers stop at 103rd Street. That train reaches downtown or Long Beach without a car, and the 105 Freeway runs just south. Sit-down restaurants are few, and a night out usually means a drive to another part of the city. Tour tickets can't be reserved ahead and are sold only in person, and only for cash or a check, so the neighborhood's biggest attraction still works on its own local terms.
Top Neighborhoods in Los Angeles, CA
Watts Amenities
Near good merchants4.0
Public Spaces2.7
Curb Appeal2
Overall Amenities score: 2.7
Watts Weather
Watts Photos
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Schools Serving Watts
| School Name | Type | Grades | Houseberry School Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Judith F. Baca Arts Academy | Primary | K-6 | |
| Compton Avenue Elementary | Primary | K-5 | |
| Grape Street Elementary | Primary | K-5 | |
| Ninety-Second Street Elementary | Primary | K-6 | |
| Ninety-Sixth Street Elementary | Primary | K-6 | |
| Lovelia P. Flournoy Elementary | Primary | K-5 | |
| Florence Griffith Joyner Elementary | Primary | K-5 | |
| One Hundred Twelfth Street Elementary | Primary | K-5 | |
| Ritter Elementary | Primary | K-5 | |
| Weigand Avenue Elementary | Primary | K-5 | |
| Charles Drew Middle | Middle | 7-8 | |
| Edwin Markham Middle | Middle | 6-8 | |
| Public Service Community at Diego Rivera Learning Complex | High | 9-12 | |
| Communication and Technology at Diego Rivera Learning Complex | High | 9-12 | |
| Diego Rivera Learning Complex Green Design STEAM Academy | High | 9-12 | |
| Performing Arts Community at Diego Rivera Learning Complex | High | 9-12 | |
| Mervyn M. Dymally High | High | 9-12 | |
| John C. Fremont Senior High | High | 9-12 | |
| Jordan High | High | 9-12 |
Click links for school listing
info at GreatSchools.org
Houseberry School Score Data
from CA Dept. of Education
Houseberry recommends using these scores as only a starting point, and conducting your own investigation into what schools fit best for your preferences. School boundaries are not guaranteed and may change. It is important to contact the appropriate school district to confirm enrollment eligibility before making any decision to move to a neighborhood.
Watts Home Prices
Watts FAQs
10 answers
Is Watts a good place to live?
Watts ranks 84th of 104 neighborhoods in Los Angeles with an overall Houseberry score of 2.5 out of 5. Its strongest factor is nearby merchants (4.0/5). The trade-offs are curb appeal (2.0/5) and schools (2.4/5).
Is Watts safe?
Watts, Los Angeles scores 2.5 out of 5 on Houseberry's Safety Score, ranking 78th of 104 neighborhoods in Los Angeles.
What do homes in Watts cost?
The typical home price in Watts, Los Angeles is $587k, compared with $1.15M for Los Angeles as a whole. Houseberry currently rates it undervalued by about $77,000 against comparable neighborhoods.
Are home prices in Watts rising or falling?
The typical home price in Watts, Los Angeles is up about 1.5% over the past 12 months, at $587k. The full 12-month history is charted in the Typical Home Price section on this page.
Which schools serve Watts?
Schools serving Watts, Los Angeles include Judith F. Baca Arts Academy (2.5/5), Compton Avenue Elementary (2.7/5), Grape Street Elementary (2.0/5), Ninety-Second Street Elementary (2.6/5) and Ninety-Sixth Street Elementary (2.2/5). 14 more schools are listed in the Schools section on this page.
What is the weather like in Watts?
Watts, Los Angeles receives 81% of its possible sunshine, 47th of 104 in Los Angeles. Summer days run 63° to 79°F and winter days 48° to 67°F, August is the warmest month and rainfall averages about 13 inches a year.
Is Watts walkable to shops and restaurants?
Watts, Los Angeles scores 4.0 out of 5 for nearby merchants and 2.7 out of 5 for public spaces. Its overall amenities score is 2.7 out of 5, 99th of 104 in Los Angeles.
What is Watts known for?
Watts, Los Angeles is associated with Watts Towers, Watts Coffee House and Jordan Downs. Its highest-scoring factor is nearby merchants (4.0/5).
How does Watts compare to other Los Angeles neighborhoods?
Watts ranks 84th of 104 neighborhoods in Los Angeles. It ranks 78th of 104 in Los Angeles for safety (2.5/5) and scores lowest on curb appeal (2.0/5). The highest-ranked neighborhoods in Los Angeles are Mandeville Canyon and Pacific Palisades.
What are the downsides of living in Watts?
Watts, Los Angeles scores lowest on curb appeal (2.0/5) and schools (2.4/5).
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