Town, City of Los Angeles
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Code: 90049
Upscale town, located mostly in the foothills of Santa Monica Mountains. One of the movie-entertainment towns, home to many stars. Part of City of Los Angeles. Also home to Getty Museum and Mount Saint Mary's College. Population about 42,000. www.mccormacks.com
Used to be home to O.J. Simpson and during trial reporters poured over and analyzed Brentwood. Simpson moved away, home demolished.
Crime ratings for the town are not tracked but are very low. Patrolled by L.A. police. Many homes have medallions indicating protection by security services. See Crime.
Also protected indirectly by The Governator, a.k.a. Arnold Swarzenegger. He and wife Maria and children live in Brentwood. Wither goeth the governor, so goeth police attention.
Brentwood is situated immediately west of Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) and is split about its middle by Sunset Boulevard. The Brentwood Country Club is located on its south side, Mount St. Mary’s College and the new Getty Museum on its north side, and Topanga State Park on the west side.
Sunset Boulevard roughly defines housing patterns. South of Sunset, single homes and apartments; north of Sunset, mostly single homes. Beverly Hills is about four miles to the east, the Pacific about four miles to the west.
Brentwood has its mansions, some gigantic. It has its homes that hang off the hills or sit on mesas and command great views of the countryside and possibly for few, the Pacific. www.mccormacks.com
But for the most part, Brentwood was built for upscale professionals. The typical home is a three- or four-bedroom rancher, two-car garage, built in the 1950s or 1960s. Shallow ravines and small hills divide the town, creating mini neighborhoods.
The main streets (Mandeville Canyon, Kenter Avenue, Bundy Drive) run up the ravines and spin off cul-de-sac streets. From the ravines, gentle and steep hills rise. Many homes have views of the canyons and the greenery.
Trees and shrubs are plentiful. Country feeling. Many homes front the street; some hide behind hedges or gates. Lot of attention paid to lawns, landscaping and appearances.
Residents led fight to suppress leaf blowers (too noisy) and the homeowners group has won a reputation as being successful at fighting for what it wants and defeating what it doesn't.
Education by Los Angeles School District. State rankings: Brentwood Science Magnet, 70th to 80th percentile, Kenter Canyon Elementary, high 90s, Paul Revere Middle, 70th and 80th percentile. See Schools.
Several regional parks nearby. Two golf courses. Lots to do in Santa Monica. UCLA close by. Short drive to the Pacific. Sport fields at the schools. Trails into hills. Horses and stables. Polo field in regional park. www.mccormacks.com
About 15 miles to downtown L.A. Freeway all the way, Interstate 405 to Santa Monica Freeway. Many jobs in Hollywood and West L.A. To keep traffic away from housing, Getty Museum built tram from parking lot to museum.
Chamber of commerce: (213) 580-7500.
• Near the freeway Brentwood borders a large center for the Veterans Administration. In 1942, for the GIs, the center built a theater for shows, movies and lectures and other activities. The theater fell into disrepair but several years ago efforts jelled to restore the place and bring back live theater, touring shows and the performing arts. The result: the Brentwood Theater, up and running.
• California has another Brentwood. It is located about 40 miles east of San Francisco in Contra Costa County. This Brentwood is a legal city and sometimes the two get confused. Brentwood, Los Angeles, is a district or “town” of the City of Los Angeles. www.mccormacks.com
For orientation on cities, towns and neighborhoods of Los Angeles County, see County Overview.
