Moving to Los Angeles with 3 children - best place to live (Pasadena: appointed, rental)

[bostondad24]

We are moving to LA area with 3 kids. Children: 11 year old (going into middle school), 6 year old (going into 1st), 9 year old (going into second grade). 11 year old is very into sports, 6 year old is figuring out what she loves, 9 year old is a daughter and has special needs/intellectually disabled. No behavior issues but non verbal and a wonderful sweet girl. We are looking for a community that would be good for all the kids and that is top of mind for us. Especially having a solid special needs program. Would like to go public school if we can. Would also be open to private school for our special needs daughter. Great academics, good sports, and special needs programs in middle and elementary are the main criteria for our children.

I work from home, but I am in the tech space, so would be nice to be near the Los Angeles Tech Community. Wife is going to work for a fashion company in the arts district of LA - right off E4th and E6th street exits off the 101.

We are going to rent a house at first and can afford something between $5K and $8K a month. We live in a suburb of Boston right know.

We are trying to balance what the kids need and commute for my wife. Will probably be able to do flex hours at some point to help on commute and nightmare traffic.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated? We have thought about Calabasas, but the commute seems to be a problem. South Pasadena comes up, but housing seems limited. Palos Verdes also comes up, but the commute is a bit of a nightmare. Concerned about LAUSD given our daughters special needs although having some size can mean better programs - seems like finding the right neighborhood is important.

[CaliInChappaqua]

Look into La Canada, La Crescenta and San Marino. Pasadena and Alatadena are also great choices, but the schools aren't as good as the others mentioned. Sierra Madre has a great elementary and middle school -- you might look there, too. Good luck!

[JohnG72]

South Pasadena and its not even close.

If you can't find something there to rent, the following are all safe, all have very good schools, and are 45 minute or less commute to the arts district(not sure what you mean by Los Angeles Tech Community) at the very worst rush hour times. All are within 20 minutes at non rush hour:

La Cresenta
La Canada
Burbank
Temple City
Parts of Alhambra and San Gabriel
San Marino
Arcadia(might be more than a 45 minute rush hour commute)

If I were you, I'd get a realtor who deals with South Pasadena and see if they can find a rental there that suits you. If not, expand the search to the other areas.

IMO Calabasas and Palos Verdes are prohibitively far. It sounds like you are looking into more upscale areas....you are going to be disappointed how little your money gets in South Pasadena, but thats the community that best suits your needs. San Marino and La Canada, are upscale places that rival Palos Verdes. La Cresenta and Arcadia are also very nice areas with large older homes. Temple City and Burbank are a little more middle class...actually both were very blue collar in the not so distant past(except the foothill portion of Burbank) and the housing stock sort of reflects that...lots of 1950's-1970's build homes that are smaller. But the schools are good and the communites are nice/safe.

[dakota09]

There are a lot of very nice neighborhoods but Sierra Madre is the safest. That's why it cost more to live there. Many neighbors work at JPL, attended Cal Tech and are professors at Universities. The public school has a special needs program and the elementary/middle school has one of the best Arts programs. If you look at Meganslaw website you will see how safe it is. It's easy to rent something just takes time to find the right house since there isn't much inventory. Good luck to your family. I know how important it is to find the right place for your children to live. One more thing.....the beaches are far and a tough commute but if we could afford it, I would pick Pacific Palisades!

[steven_h]

You might want to consider Culver City which is close to the beaches and enjoys the summer breezes. The schools are ranked 8/10, with Farragut Elementary a 10. Anything further inland will be stuffy in the summer heat. $5-8k a month will get you a lot of home for the money just about anywhere south of Beverly Hills. Also West LA and Santa Monica might be a good choice. All these areas are close to the 10 which runs right through downtown. Any area west of the 405 and south of the 10 would be where I'd start.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by JohnG72

not sure what you mean by Los Angeles Tech Community

Does the OP mean the community college @ 400 West Washington Blvd, L.A. 90015? LATTC | Community
If so, that changes the commute.