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Baldwin Village and Baldwin Hills are just a hop, skip, and a jump away from one another. But that’s not an invitation to confuse the two distinct communities. Still, two minutes in LA traffic, and you’ll understand this isn’t a city that waits for an invitation. Baldwin Village and Baldwin Hills are frequently used interchangeably by those only passingly familiar with the area, but they offer their own unique living experiences, community cultures, and, yes, real estate opportunities. So, if you’re planning on buying, renting, or even investing in one of the Baldwins, here’s how to distinguish the two so that your decisions are properly informed!
Where Are Baldwin Hills and Baldwin Village?
As its name would suggest, Baldwin Hills comprises a hillside community toward LA’s south side, surrounded by other notable Los Angeles communities, including Culver City to the west, Leimert Park and Crenshaw to the east, View Park-Windsor Hills to the south, and Mid-City to the north. Panoramic urban vistas, generously-sized streets, and a proliferation of Mid-Century Modern architecture all strongly contribute to the appeal of Baldwin Hills. Despite its enviable location, it retains a distinctly suburban feeling.
At the foot of Baldwin Hills, you’ll find the more densely compacted Baldwin Village, offering more affordability thanks to its higher volume of multi-family housing. By comparison to Baldwin Hills, Baldwin Village is much smaller and often defined by its location just east of La Brea Avenue and south of Coliseum Street. Leaning into the multi-family orientation of the community’s structures, Baldwin Hills is often recognized for its abundance of sprawling garden-style apartments, many of which popped up in the 1940s and ‘50s. These residential structures are praised for offering a more private experience than more traditional mid- and high-rises.
Different Communities with Different Vibes
Even aside from the Mid-Century homes that pepper Baldwin Hills, you’ll find a distinct family-orientation in the residential designs that line its ample streets. It’s a community where homes boast yards blooming with curb appeal and two-car garages offering sanctuary from the street parking hassles of the city. Some are classic construction. Others are newly built. But this residential focus tends to attract professionals with families looking for a somewhat secluded, safe community to build their lives well into the future.
In contrast, Baldwin Village tends to have a more metropolitan feel, prioritizing apartments and condominiums over single-family homes. As a result of the city’s historic height restrictions, these tend to be of the low-rise variety, making them ideal for the popular “garden city” style in which multiple structures share the same lot, frequently bisected with lush, verdant greenery. The wealth of multi-family buildings logically attracts real estate investors in addition to renters in search of affordable, but conveniently located housing options.
Affordability in the Baldwin Communities
It should come as no surprise that classic Mid-Century Modern homes and private single-family residences command premium prices. Therefore, the stunning views of Baldwin Hills come at a significant cost. Historically, Baldwin Village has been regarded as a nearby, more affordable option. While that’s, more or less, still the case, increased demand for housing across the region has driven prices up across Baldwin Village. The demand is further amplified by the community’s proximity to the Crenshaw/LAX Metro Line and local redevelopment backed by serious investors.
Local Attractions in the Areas
Arguably, the biggest local attractions in Baldwin Hills are the 401-acre Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area and the picturesque Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. These recreational areas reflect the community’s placid, suburban feel. By comparison, the more urban Baldwin Village is a bustling area, with countless options for dining and shopping, further enlivened by close proximity to public transit stations. However, the community still manages to retain a close, tight-knit feeling with plenty of civic pride. As local housing demand continues to rise, more and more young creatives and professionals are considering Baldwin Village an attractive neighborhood due to its nexus of lively foot traffic, walkability, and community spirit.
Baldwin Hills or Baldwin Village: Which is Right for You?
So, despite neighboring one another, Baldwin Hills and Baldwin Village are their own distinct communities with contrasting benefits. Those looking toward family-oriented futures tend to prefer the spaciousness and privacy of Baldwin Hills. But these coveted benefits come at a premium cost. Meanwhile, Baldwin Village’s proliferation of multi-family housing continues to earn the attention of investors, renters, and first-time buyers seeking an affordable entry into the housing market of South Los Angeles. If either of these seems like a fit for your future, reach out to one of our knowledgeable real estate professionals today!
With a brand that says as much as JohnHart’s, Senior Copywriter Seth Styles never finds himself at a loss for words. Responsible for maintaining the voice of the company, he spends each day drafting marketing materials, blogs, bios, and agent resources that speak from the company’s collective mind and Hart… errr, heart.
Having spent over a decade in creative roles across a variety of industries, Seth brings with him vast experience in SEO practices, digital marketing, and all manner of professional writing with particular strength in blogging, content creation, and brand building. Gratitude, passion, and sincerity remain core tenets of his unwavering work ethic. The landscape of the industry changes daily, paralleling JohnHart’s efforts to {re}define real estate, but Seth works to maintain the company’s consistent message while offering both agents and clients a new echelon of service.
When not preserving the JohnHart essence in stirring copy, Seth puts his efforts into writing and illustrating an ongoing series entitled The Death of Romance. In addition, he adores spending quality time with his girlfriend and Romeo (his long-haired chihuahua mix), watching ‘70s and ‘80s horror movies, and reading (with a particular penchant for Victorian horror novels and authors Yukio Mishima and Bret Easton Ellis). He also occasionally records music as the vocalist and songwriter for his glam rock band, Peppermint Pumpkin.
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