Hawthorne sits just inland of El Segundo and Manhattan Beach, a few miles from LAX. For many buyers the focus is Holly Glen, the neighborhood west of the I-405 served by Wiseburn Unified schools, but the wider city also offers quick freeway and Metro access and some of the South Bay’s more approachable prices.
Neighborhoods in Hawthorne
- Holly Glen (Hollyglen): the part of Hawthorne west of the I-405, roughly between El Segundo Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue and between Aviation Boulevard and the freeway, with Hollyglen Park and the Wiseburn Library.
- Del Aire: next door, but unincorporated Los Angeles County rather than the City of Hawthorne, and also served by Wiseburn schools. Some homes just east of the 405 with Hawthorne addresses are actually in Del Aire.
- Central and East Hawthorne: the rest of the city, including the Downtown Hawthorne plan area along Hawthorne Boulevard.
Schools
School districts are the most important thing to check in Hawthorne, because they change across the city.
- Holly Glen: Wiseburn Unified School District. Its schools were recently renamed: Hollyglen Elementary (TK to 2nd grade), Aviation Elementary (3rd to 5th), Wiseburn Middle School (6th to 8th), and the Da Vinci Communications, Design and Science high schools on the Wiseburn High School campus in El Segundo. Del Aire Elementary serves the Del Aire area.
- Most of the rest of Hawthorne: Hawthorne School District for TK to 8th grade, then Centinela Valley Union High School District (Hawthorne, Lawndale and Leuzinger High Schools). Hawthorne Math and Science Academy is a charter high school option.
Small parts of the city fall into other districts, so always confirm the district for the exact address. Jesse can help you check before you write an offer.
Parks and things to do
Hollyglen Park is the neighborhood park in Holly Glen. Memorial Park and the Betty Ainsworth Sports Center on El Segundo Boulevard host the city’s sports programs and the Sunday farmers market, and Eucalyptus Park has a skatepark.
Big nights out are close by: SoFi Stadium and the Kia Forum are just north in Inglewood. Hawthorne also has a California Historical Landmark at the site of the Beach Boys’ childhood home on West 119th Street, where Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson grew up. The beaches of Manhattan Beach and El Segundo are a short drive west.
Food, drinks and shopping
Jesse’s picks:
- Common Space Brewery on El Segundo Boulevard, a local taproom with regular events.
- Los Angeles Ale Works on Cerise Avenue, with a big outdoor beer garden.
- Zacatecas Restaurant on Inglewood Avenue, for traditional Mexican food.
- Hummus House on Hawthorne Boulevard, a casual Mediterranean favorite.
- Urth Caffé on West 147th Street, for organic coffee and brunch.
For bigger shopping trips, The Point, Plaza El Segundo and Manhattan Village are all a few minutes from Holly Glen.
Events through the year
- Hawthorne Certified Farmers Market: Sundays from 9am to 2pm at the Betty Ainsworth Sports Center lot (started in 2026).
- Hawthorne Eats Restaurant Week: January.
- Juneteenth celebration: June.
- Winter Wonderland: December, at City Hall.
Getting around
Holly Glen is about 4.5 to 5.5 miles from LAX and about 18 miles from Downtown Los Angeles by road (from City Hall it’s about 15 miles). The I-405 has exits at Rosecrans Avenue and El Segundo Boulevard, the I-105 runs along the city’s northern edge, and two Metro lines serve the area: the C Line along the 105 and the K Line, whose Douglas station is closest to Holly Glen. The LAX/Metro Transit Center opened in 2025.
Buying a home in Hawthorne
Homes range from single-family houses to condos and townhomes. Because school districts and even city limits change from block to block, the exact address matters more here than almost anywhere else in the South Bay. The live figures at the top cover the whole City of Hawthorne. Browse every Hawthorne home for sale, or ask Jesse to narrow it down to Holly Glen.
Frequently asked questions
Which school district serves Holly Glen in Hawthorne?
Holly Glen is in Wiseburn Unified School District, which runs Hollyglen Elementary, Aviation Elementary, Wiseburn Middle School and the Da Vinci high schools. Most of the rest of Hawthorne is served by Hawthorne School District and Centinela Valley Union High School District.
How far is Hawthorne from LAX?
About 4.5 to 5.5 miles by road from Holly Glen. Travel time depends on traffic.
Is SoFi Stadium in Hawthorne?
No. SoFi Stadium and the Kia Forum are in neighboring Inglewood, just north of Hawthorne.
When is the Hawthorne farmers market?
Sundays from 9am to 2pm at the Betty Ainsworth Sports Center lot on El Segundo Boulevard.
