<p>Sliver Lake/Echo Park/Los Feliz are ok. I know some of the professors bought houses there. It seems Los Feliz has some more stock of apartments. </p>
<p>But I really don’t think you need to live there. Immediate community around USC is fine enough. Or you can go Pasadena, then taking Metro Gold line can get you to campus in 45 mins. Never dream about 10~15 mins commute if you don’t live around the campus.</p>