does anyone live in los angeles with kids? (Pasadena, El Monte: apartments, rentals)

[timelesschild]

You can find a 2 bedroom apartment in Arcadia for under $1500, and have excellent schools and safety.

Within the city of Los Angeles, I know of one really good elementary school (there are others, but this is the one I know of) - Ivanhoe Elementary, in Silver Lake. The area is safe and pleasant, if you like hip and urban, and you can find a 2 bedroom apartment for under $1500.

I (and, doubtless, others) can go on with suggestions of this kind all day. Look at GreatSchools - Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community and LA Life - Find Your Place in Los Angeles, for some additional help in solving the eternal puzzle. We are all trying to do the same thing: Get close to work and good schools, as cheaply and safely as possible. It's good that we all work different places, eh?

There are lots of nice places to live. Given the nature of the dad's work, I would think that a central location would be a little better than a more-suburban one; that way he would minimize his various commutes. I don't think it's that big a deal though, because his job sites will change.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by timelesschild

You can find a 2 bedroom apartment in Arcadia for under $1500, and have excellent schools and safety.

Within the city of Los Angeles, I know of one really good elementary school (there are others, but this is the one I know of) - Ivanhoe Elementary, in Silver Lake. The area is safe and pleasant, if you like hip and urban, and you can find a 2 bedroom apartment for under $1500.

I (and, doubtless, others) can go on with suggestions of this kind all day. Look at GreatSchools - Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community and LA Life - Find Your Place in Los Angeles, for some additional help in solving the eternal puzzle. We are all trying to do the same thing: Get close to work and good schools, as cheaply and safely as possible. It's good that we all work different places, eh?

There are lots of nice places to live. Given the nature of the dad's work, I would think that a central location would be a little better than a more-suburban one; that way he would minimize his various commutes. I don't think it's that big a deal though, because his job sites will change.

GreatSchools is a very credible site, but LA Life might as well be the Onion. I wouldn't take anything I see on there seriously.

Generally if you're raising kids in L.A. you don't want to be in LAUSD. That should help someone with kids when thinking of places to live. If you're in an LAUSD area either try to get your kids into a magnet or charter or pay for private schools. I personally don't think L.A. is a good place for kids unless one's either living in a non-LAUSD area or is wealthy, and L.A. is seeing a tremendous amount of "family flight" especially on the Westside : not just in LAUSD areas, but even in non-LAUSD Culver City and Beverly Hills.

[andreita30]

It doesn't have to be L.A. or Southern California, It just has to have some of the things I want and nice weather. Living on Long Island, New York City, price wise is almost the same, and in some areas more expensive to live, I live in an area were the houses on average are $600-900,000. Long Island is one of the most expensive places to live and very beautiful, but just like people who have lived in California their whole lives are sick of it, I'm sick of living on Long Island, so I am without a doubt moving, if not to California then to somewhere else.

[impala666]

Yes I have two kids in school and live in malibu,life is sweet no gangs no guns only ganja and geriatrics.

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by andreita30

It doesn't have to be L.A. or Southern California, It just has to have some of the things I want and nice weather. Living on Long Island, New York City, price wise is almost the same, and in some areas more expensive to live, I live in an area were the houses on average are $600-900,000. Long Island is one of the most expensive places to live and very beautiful, but just like people who have lived in California their whole lives are sick of it, I'm sick of living on Long Island, so I am without a doubt moving, if not to California then to somewhere else.

I grew up in Long Island and have lived in California for 15 years. I visit Long Island several times a year.

California is nothing like NY. You are talking about a state that basically has as many people living in 2 or 3 major cities as the entire eastern seaboard.

Your 600k-900k in Long Island is going to go much farther than it will in many CA cities. CA is not like Long Island where there are towns and some are good and some are bad. CA cities are a conglomeration of entire cities which can be good or bad. The reality is that most of CA is block-by-block, neighborhood-by-neighborhood, city-by-city. You can spend 900k on a home here and the nearby schools will be overrun with gangs and you might be a few blocks from a high crime area. Much more similar to NYC than LI in that regard. All of this in a seemingly suburban setting.

You are going to need to take that road trip and see what CA looks like for yourself. I think you are in for a bit of culture shock

[majoun]

Originally Posted by andreita30

It doesn't have to be L.A. or Southern California, It just has to have some of the things I want and nice weather.

Santa Cruz has been mentioned. From what you've said you'd be better off in Northern California, I don't know why you're so preoccupied with SoCal.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by majoun

Santa Cruz has been mentioned. From what you've said you'd be better off in Northern California, I don't know why you're so preoccupied with SoCal.

I would second NorCal and add Central Cal as well. But honestly there are so many options with decent to good places for families that they could move almost anywhere especially near the coast.

If the poster has never seen CA that is the first thing she and her family should do. That will help them narrow things down a bit more. Otherwise there are 1001+ choices.

Derek

[majoun]

Originally Posted by user_id

Kids are not allowed in Los Angeles.

With all the silly rules that the city of L.A. makes and as crazy as it is with fines and fees, I'm surprised that the city of L.A. hasn't decided to put a special tax on families with kids.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by timelesschild

You can find a 2 bedroom apartment in Arcadia for under $1500, and have excellent schools and safety.

Within the city of Los Angeles, I know of one really good elementary school (there are others, but this is the one I know of) - Ivanhoe Elementary, in Silver Lake. The area is safe and pleasant, if you like hip and urban, and you can find a 2 bedroom apartment for under $1500.

I (and, doubtless, others) can go on with suggestions of this kind all day. Look at GreatSchools - Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community and LA Life - Find Your Place in Los Angeles, for some additional help in solving the eternal puzzle. We are all trying to do the same thing: Get close to work and good schools, as cheaply and safely as possible. It's good that we all work different places, eh?

There are lots of nice places to live. Given the nature of the dad's work, I would think that a central location would be a little better than a more-suburban one; that way he would minimize his various commutes. I don't think it's that big a deal though, because his job sites will change.

Where are you gettin your information? nice apartment in Arcadia and in the Arcadia school district, $1500 a month, wow??!!! Add to that if you have been reading the OPs many threads and there are many she wants a place where there is a lot of action: Arcadia is not that. BTW it isn't dad, it is her current boyfriend. Now add to that his chances of even getting a job..

I know you are trying to give good advise, but in this case you are not. Acadia takes in more than just Arcadia schools, if she finds an aparrtment for the price you are mentioning it will be, most like El Monte schools.

nita

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by andreita30

It doesn't have to be L.A. or Southern California, It just has to have some of the things I want and nice weather. Living on Long Island, New York City, price wise is almost the same, and in some areas more expensive to live, I live in an area were the houses on average are $600-900,000. Long Island is one of the most expensive places to live and very beautiful, but just like people who have lived in California their whole lives are sick of it, I'm sick of living on Long Island, so I am without a doubt moving, if not to California then to somewhere else.

If I were you I would look into places like NM, Texas, Ok and maybe even AR. These are states that are not suffering as much, contractors are still building and the economy is much better, plus you can find what you want in the price range you can handle. Still you need to take a few thousand dollars out of your saving (which I am sure you have) and visit before you make a final decision.

Nita