Middle Class Nice Safe Area 1 to 1 1/2 hours from L.A. (San Diego: apartment, rent)

[RockyCity]

A friend from college is relocating to california in the next few months. Although I was able to advice him about certain areas of california, I wasnt able to really to give him much advice around the southern california area. His job requires no commute and would like to live in a middle class nice safe area near L.A or San Diego within 1 hour to 1 1/2 away. He considered such areas like Glendale, Santa Monica and Burbank but is also considering a better housing situation more bang for his buck, near L.A or San Diego since he will be working from home. If anyone knows of such areas, where are they, how much are homes there and/or rents.

[1200RT]

Need to know budget and size (1-bedroom, single family home, etc), requirements. Kids? Schools matter? Proximity to airports?

[Joe Van Fossen]

There are nice parts of Orange County that are within an hour of LA and 1.5hrs of San Diego, depending on traffic -- Fullerton, Brea, Tustin, Irvine, Aliso Viejo, etc. It really depends on the kind of lifestyle he wants and what he can afford. If he's young, single and looking for a place that has a good nightlife, he can try various parts of LA, including Santa Monica, West Hollywood, West LA, Echo Park, Silverlake, and Pasadena. In OC, Fullerton is a pretty good place for singles or young couples--plenty of restaurants and bars/clubs. If safety is a big priority, the suburbs tend to rank pretty high in that respect. Irvine has been #1 on the FBI's safest cities list for a number of years.

Homes in any of the aforementioned areas can range anywhere from the mid-100s to $1M plus. It's hard to give anything more concrete than that without certain criteria: attached/detached? how many rooms? etc... It'll probably be better to start with his budget, his priorities and other wants/needs, then pick the area based on that.

[RockyCity]

He is single, desires to live in a single family home. No kids. His budget for a home 500 to 600 K, or rent for around 2 K. Airports or schools not that important, just wants to live in a area close to L.A. or San Diego, within an hour to hour and half or so. Something that will give him more bang for his buck, rather than living in a place like Burbank or Glendale. Nice safe environment more important than nightlife, for that he can take the hour drive or so.

[bhcompy]

Best bang for buck? Probably somewhere like Lakewood. Homes are cheaper than the upperclass suburbs and the more recently built areas, but still safe with good amenities. That will put him within the desired range of LA and at his price point he's dead in the middle(or even high end) of a good Lakewood neighborhood(avoid far west/northwest other than the country club and far east)

[Joe Van Fossen]

500-600k is a pretty good budget for an SFR, could probably buy something better than he can rent for 2k.

Lakewood's not a bad idea. You can certainly get more bang for your buck there. It gets you within an hour of LA even with average traffic. You might also want to check out: Diamond Bar, Chino Hills, San Dimas, Claremont and Glendora. All are safe areas with good amenities and their own charm. Can probably get between 3-4 bedrooms and 1500-2000sq ft in his price range in many of these areas.

[RockyCity]

He will be in southern california during the holidays and will relay this information on Lakewood, Diamond Bar, Chino Hills, San Dimas, Claremont and Glendora. Perhaps he can research these areas in the meantime, prior to his trip and eventually find something to his liking. Thanks all.

[atina33]

Westchester

[nightlysparrow]

Speaking just for Agoura, Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks---extremely low crime with excellent police response, surrounded by (mandated) greenspace areas, with hiking trails, wildlife, streams. Only 12 miles over Kanan Rd. to Malibu and public beaches along PCH. No highrise buildings. Thousand Oaks forbids billboards. T.O. sits midway between the 101 and the 23 freeways for alternate commuting routes. It's 15-20 minutes to the Valley on the 101 from T.O.

Agoura and Westlake have more singles, T.O. more families. Nightlife in Westlake is classy. T.O. has all the best shopping. The schools are CA award-winning. There's a very good hospital in T.O. The architecture is boring, tract houses and apartment-wise, but are well-maintained. Not a lot of racial or ethnic diversity. The people are friendly and remember you in stores and say hi.

Some people call them bedroom communities or even suburban, but with L.A. sprawl, those terms are meaningless. You don't usually need to leave these cities for anything except an airport or national entertainment. And the Valley and L.A. are doable for that. The areas have a relaxing, semi-rural feel. Lots of coyotes, some deer, owls and other cool creatures are very close in to the neighborhoods.

[RockyCity]

Agoura, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, and Westchester noted. Thanks.