job in Pasadena: live in Pasadena or elsewhere on Gold Line? (Glendale: rental, HOA)

[rzzz]

I have a job opportunity in Pasadena. I've been to LA many times but am unfamiliar with Pasadena and adjacent areas.

The office is near the Del Mar metro station.
I'm a single guy but I don't go out much so I don't care about being super close to bars or restaurants.
I would like to live somewhere it's easy to go running and get to the gym either before or after work.
My budget is $2000-$2400 a month. I would prefer a newer building if possible. Should I look for places right in Pasadena or can I get a better deal or nicer building somewhere else along the Gold Line?

[nowincal11]

Live in Old Town Pasadena if you want to take the Gold Line. The rest of the areas on the Gold Line are pretty rough except for Pasadena and directly East (Sierra Madre). If you don't mind to drive 15 min, check out Glendale and Burbank.

[thelopez2]

Want a condo with a pool?
5860 BENNER St #103, Highland Park, CA 90042 | MLS# SR13252222 | Redfin a couple of blocks from the gold line.
Your mortgage and HOA might be 80% of your rental budget.

[saybanana]

The newer building complexes in Pasadena are located between the (East/West )freeway and Fair Oaks between (North/South)Green Street and Del Mar. Also between Los Robles and Lake between Colorado and 210 freeway. You can walk from there to Del Mar or take the Lake Gold Line to Del Mar. If you like running, the Rose Bowl is not that far from Old Town Pasadena.

[munchitup]

If that budget is for a 1BR, you could probably afford to live in the building that is literally above the Del Mar station - I think it is called Archstone.

[True Freedom]

if your job is near metro, you should definitely find housing near metro. Not having an auto commute in LA is worth un-told millions. Highland Park will be cheaper (and as far south as I'd live), because it is a neighborhood in transition. Reasonably safe, but still a gang presence. Living near any of the Pasadena stops would be great. As Saybanana mentioned, there is a ton of new apts/ condos between Delacey and Pasadena Ave, and Green and DelMar. You could walk to work, walk to Old Town restaurants, etc... and a quick jog to Rose Bowl (3 mile protected jogging loop around the Bowl) or a quick jog down into the Arroyo (along Arroyo Blvd.. not Arroyo Pkwy a few blocks west) for some dirt path jogging. You could even jog your way up to the foothills and do some extreme mountain jogging in the San Gabriels, if you're into that. The Fillmore, Del Mar and Memorial Park stations will put you in the thick of things. Near the Allen Station, it's a little more low-key, more residential an auto related shops, as well as Pasadena City College. The Sierra Madre station is even more out of the way.. but has some good nearby amenities just north of the 210.

[rzzz]

Thanks for the tips. The Archstone looks fine. I am going to check it out.