Beverly Hills vs. Bel Air (vs. Holmby Hills) (Los Angeles, Santa Monica: apartments, houses)

[jacity]

They seem very similar to me. Just out of curiosity, what is the real difference if there is any?

[SoCal35]

Beverly Hills is its own municipality with a significant commercial and business district. Beverly Hills also has its own school district which are very good. Beverly Hills also has neighborhoods with multifamily/apartments, not just single-family homes.

Bel-Air and Holmby Hills are residential neighborhoods within the City of Los Angeles. Bel-Air always seemed a bit more secluded than either BH or HH. There are no sidewalks in Bel-Air....it's just very lush and many of the homes are hidden off long drives.

[BRinSM]

Holmby Hills is the area just to the east of UCLA, while Bel-Air is to the north. You know you've entered Bel-Air because there are "gates" at many of the entrances. Bel-Air is probably more famous, but the most famous individual houses in LA (Playboy Mansion & Spelling Manor) are located in Holmby Hills.

[SoCal35]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

Holmby Hills is the area just to the east of UCLA, while Bel-Air is to the north. You know you've entered Bel-Air because there are "gates" at many of the entrances. .

On that note, if you ever catch the intro to the 1970's detective show The Rockford Files you'll see a shot of Jim Garner (the show's star) standing by the Bel-Air gates. Great theme song too.

[jacity]

Thanks! Which of them would be considered the most "family-friendly," with maybe houses that you can see from the street and where you can know your neighbors, which it sounds like Bel Air isn't. Are there other towns on the Westside that are better for families than these three? Thanks again!

[hsw]

Brentwood and Palisades are more family-oriented and have better air quality (and cooler temps) than BH area

Like any big city's upper socio-economic areas, Brentwood/Pali tend to be low-key and privacy-oriented

Many of neighbors know each other from industries, as many are top financiers or entertainment industry execs...and their kids attend same private schools

Many have offices in SantaMonica or CentCity or BH or DLA, so positioning vs efficient routes to office plays a role in Brent vs Pali choice

[BRinSM]

the areas you mentioned are probably the most presitigious areas on the west coast. for a more family friendly atmosphere maybe pick a neighborhood that is less extravagant. Brentwood and Pacific Palisades come to mind as well as Santa Monica, even the southern portions (the flats) of Beverly Hills feel less stuffy.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

the areas you mentioned are probably the most presitigious areas on the west coast. for a more family friendly atmosphere maybe pick a neighborhood that is less extravagant. Brentwood and Pacific Palisades come to mind as well as Santa Monica, even the southern portions (the flats) of Beverly Hills feel less stuffy.

SM and BH are more family friendly than the others mentioned, as the others mentioned are within LAUSD.

LAUSD prevents neighborhoods from being family friendly that otherwise would be.

Southern BH is definitely less stuffy ; more like West LA or the Miracle Mile (the adjoining neighborhoods depending upon what part of southern BH you're talking about) but with better schools.

Brentwood is the most overrated of all of L.A.'s rich hoods, schools issue aside. A vacuous wasteland of culture-free sterility.

[monikue]

Im thinking about moving to California is north hollywood a good neighborhood to move to

[monikue]

i like entertainment restaurants i would like to move close by some of these things any suggestions