Our Place: Perceived Neighborhood Size and Names in Los Angeles

Abstract

Perceptions of urban neighborhood size and place names reflect residents’ experience of place and may influence place-related choices and actions (e.g., mobility decisions, efforts to control noise, investments in social relationships) more than other neighborhood spatial definitions. We examine variations in these perceptions using survey data from Los Angeles and nationwide. Our results show that size perceptions vary little across regions of the U.S. However, individual and tract characteristics have a significant effect on residents’ perceptions. Specifically, more socially marginalized respondents and those less geographically mobile view their neighborhoods as smaller. Residents of larger census tracts and those with higher vacancy rates see their neighborhoods as larger, while residents with higher percentages African American and poor view their neighborhoods as smaller. Consistent with previous studies, there is greater consensus on neighborhood names than perceived size in Los Angeles County. Our results confirm that no single definition can capture residents’ own perceptions of “neighborhood” – since the perceptions of residents living in close proximity are themselves so variable.