LANCASTER CA, EDWARDS AFB what can you tell me about the area??? (Los Angeles: crime, new house)

[ec333]

I've lived in Lancaster for almost a year and have found out the hard way that it is a high crime area. I should have done some checking around first before moving there. The neighborhood I moved into is very nice-looking but on my one block alone I have seen 7 thefts/damage to property events since I have been here. It is very unnerving. I am presently looking for somewhere else to move where there is less crime, etc. The city has heavy drug use (therefore the crime) and a noticeably low standard of living with newly constructed areas ruined right off the bat with graffiti, litter, and a lot of slow-moving people who project a lazy, give-me-something-for-nothing attitude. There are organized gangs as well. This "crime/drugs/gang/low-quality schooling" is well-known information, not something a few people on this site have made up. Do your homework and get your questions answered first, like I didn't do and now only have to move again. Good luck!

[mapletears]

I enjoyed and appreciated all the response I received back about my question concerning Lancaster CA. After reviewing all the responses and some deep soul searching we decided it was in our childrens and our own best interest in NOT relocating to Lancaster CA. This website has been so helpful to us and I appreciate all your help and advice. We are now looking into other areas to relocate. And I know I will continue to use this website in the future. Thanks to all of you again.

[sillyrabbit]

Tehachapi is a great central location for those working in the Antelope Valley or in Bakersfield. We recently moved here last Feb. and have seen a bit of growth, an Appleby's is coming, we have a Starbucks, Homedepot and we're going to be getting a Wal-Mart as well. It's a small town and not a lot of traffic. On the down side we could use a larger Grocery store and more shops. Tehachapi is about 45 min to 1 hour to Palmdale/Lancaster and Bakersfield. We re-located here from Quarts hill which was a great area because my husband was transferred to Bakersfield. We love it here, we looked for a few months and just when we were going to buy a lot and build a house we came across this home which was built in 06 in golden hills west and we have a beautiful view of the city below. It looks as though we are going to possibly be re-locating to the south to be closer to family next year, so if any one is looking to move to the area our home may be available in May 2008.

[MJBAKER83]

I would not reccomend moving there the town has a discusting smell from the near by dairys and agriculture and there is basically nothing to do for entertainment there. Would look other places lived there and I regrete it to this day. If you are looking for a inexpensive place to live in Ca I would check out Fresno Ca it is a city of about 500,000 but it has a small town feel and there is pleanty to do and it is centrally located between SF and LA and less than and hour to Yosemite Natl Park and less than three hours to the beach

Originally Posted by t3t2smart

We have just learned that there is a possible chance of us moving to
Edwards AFB in California. Can anyone tell us about the area; high schools, no to low crime areas with fast fire and police response to live in, New homes and prices etc etc etc?

We know nothing about the area. What are best surrounding cities to live in for military families? We have a teen age son, that has lived overseas most of his life and has been very sheltered. Can anyone tell us where the closest hospitals are located from the base? Any Baptist churches with gospel services? Organized activities to do for teenagers? Are there any community colleges or universities in the area? Are there any good paying jobs?
I guess what we want to know, is how the area is in general and what to expect?

Thanks

[betrue4ever]

I moved to Lancaster with my family on October, 2006 and this is coming from someone who is on the ground: West Lancaster is nothing like the posts I have read and I wonder where the posters lived in Lancaster. Sort of like the tale of the elephant and the blind ones. Before I moved to West Lancaster, I wanted to move to a place where I could bring up my two kids in saftey and where I could sleep without sirens or helicopters flying overhead....away from Los Angeles city. For four different weekends I lodged in Lancaster and drove around the lenght and breath of Lancaster mostly in the evenings.Needless to say, the worst always come out in the evenings/nights and moreso during weekends. I saw a sleeping city that is peaceful and serene night and day.At the end of the investigations, I walked into a Development company and started dicussions on buying a house...because I loved the serenity, qiuetness and the green transformation of the city sitting at the base of the mountain. The only sound of planes I have heard are those heading north to the Air Force base, and the recent Fire fighting planes. Why, I do not understand is the reason for the negative postings. Or am I living in another Lancaster....but there is only one in Antelope Valley, Los Angeles. Let the truth be told, statistics are fine but nothing beats reality, and the stats might be ten blind men grabbing at the tusk of an elephant and concluding an elephant to be the tusk. And too, l learnt the Mayor of the city is an african-american...could that be part of the stats? But for me the reality is the truth and I thought I should put in my quota and encourage anyone who is living in Lancaster now and here to come on board.

[ibarrio]

Obviously you haven't drove down Ave I or Sierra Hwy...

Maybe it is a case of ignorance is bliss...I guess if you do not read the news papers and stay away from the bad areas you will never know what type of community Lancaster and Palmdale are turning into...

[Archy]

I need to jump in here for a moment.

I too have been offered a position at Edwards AFB. We've lived in El Paso, TX (ft bliss) the last 5 yrs....the desert is NOT my favorite place....being from the GREAT NORTHWEST.

Would we be better looking to buy in Tehachapi as many of the post suggest or looking into Lancaster?

Houses appear to be about the same in price but I am more concerned with the academics of the local gramer schools.

Thanks

[canibeyou]

Tehachapi.

Hope everything works out for you.

[ec333]

Yes, there is definitely a big difference between the west side and east side of Lancaster. It is the same town, divided into west and east. The west is more upscale, newer, beautiful houses, nice shopping areas, etc. Safer too. But please beware that the crime situations are encroaching into the west side. Two people I know who live on the west side (a bit closer to the east side but still the "west side") have told me of break-ins and vandalism on their blocks. One house four times--it's right near a fast through street, easy get-aways. Also just due to the way gangs operate, they will eventually claim more and more western areas as their territory to hit unless they are really gotten under control. Since I live here I TRULY hope they are gotten under control and gotten rid of, but by appearance it is definitely not happening fast enough if at all. I have started an internet search for effective anti-crime or anti-drug programs specifically in Lancaster and have not found any yet. I hope to think of more ways to look for them but they are not appearing under the obvious key words one would use to find them. So do your homework and look around the whole town before you make your final decision.

[junkman18]

Originally Posted by t3t2smart

We have just learned that there is a possible chance of us moving to
Edwards AFB in California. Can anyone tell us about the area; high schools, no to low crime areas with fast fire and police response to live in, New homes and prices etc etc etc?

We know nothing about the area. What are best surrounding cities to live in for military families? We have a teen age son, that has lived overseas most of his life and has been very sheltered. Can anyone tell us where the closest hospitals are located from the base? Any Baptist churches with gospel services? Organized activities to do for teenagers? Are there any community colleges or universities in the area? Are there any good paying jobs?
I guess what we want to know, is how the area is in general and what to expect?

Thanks

Rosamond May be the best place for you, It doesn't have all the gang problems that Lancaster/Palmdale have. But did you think about living on base? lots of housing and living on base is about as safe as you can get.