Santa Monica to Torrance

[BRinSM]

most of torrance is a very nice city, with good to great schools. while freeway access can be difficult, everything one would need is a relatively short drive away, including the beach and a very large mall.

[JohnG72]

Originally Posted by DFWtoLA

I personally have only driven through it a few times...have not spent much time there. However, I have just heard that it may not be the best place to raise a family.

LOL, this is completely untrue. Whoever told you this is lying or does not know what they are talking about.

Theres a few areas of Torrance that border Harbor City or Gardena that aren't the greatest, but you would not be considering those areas(due to poorer school performance for the schools in those areas) anyway.

In fact, part of why Torrance is desireable is due to school performance.

California School Performance Maps

Basically anywhere you see all dark blue is going to be very nice upscale neighborhoods, anywhere you see mostly green or light blue is going to be nice safe middle class or upper middle class neighborhoods that are family friendly neighborhoods.

As you can see, most of Torrance is light or medium blue.

As an aside, Torrance is safer than Santa Monica, which still has some sketch neighborhoods, and also its transient problems at the beach. The entire beach of the South Bay(Redondo, Hermosa, Manhatten) is all WAY nicer than Santa Monica beach, and arguably the neighborhoods are also.

The real reason Santa Monica gets touted so highly is that its a liberal bastion, while the South Bay area leans politically conservative. Its all really noise, and of no consequence unless you're an intolerant person who can't stand that others have different ideas than yours.

One more thing...theres basically no neighborhoods in the westside(where Santa Monica is) like Torrance...that is a quiet homogenous ethnically mixed upper middle class area that is safe and has good public schools. Culver City comes closest but still is much more of a urban than suburban area. Torrance has a lot of traffic and commerce, but is much more traditional LA suburb than anything on the westside.

[DFWtoLA]

It sounds like maybe I do need to look a little closer at Torrance!

[skyway31]

Originally Posted by JohnG72

LOL, this is completely untrue. Whoever told you this is lying or does not know what they are talking about.

Theres a few areas of Torrance that border Harbor City or Gardena that aren't the greatest, but you would not be considering those areas(due to poorer school performance for the schools in those areas) anyway.

In fact, part of why Torrance is desireable is due to school performance.

California School Performance Maps

Basically anywhere you see all dark blue is going to be very nice upscale neighborhoods, anywhere you see mostly green or light blue is going to be nice safe middle class or upper middle class neighborhoods that are family friendly neighborhoods.

As you can see, most of Torrance is light or medium blue.

As an aside, Torrance is safer than Santa Monica, which still has some sketch neighborhoods, and also its transient problems at the beach. The entire beach of the South Bay(Redondo, Hermosa, Manhatten) is all WAY nicer than Santa Monica beach, and arguably the neighborhoods are also.

The real reason Santa Monica gets touted so highly is that its a liberal bastion, while the South Bay area leans politically conservative. Its all really noise, and of no consequence unless you're an intolerant person who can't stand that others have different ideas than yours.

One more thing...theres basically no neighborhoods in the westside(where Santa Monica is) like Torrance...that is a quiet homogenous ethnically mixed upper middle class area that is safe and has good public schools. Culver City comes closest but still is much more of a urban than suburban area. Torrance has a lot of traffic and commerce, but is much more traditional LA suburb than anything on the westside.

Generally I agree. My biggest gripe with Torrance is that it can be quite homely. Just on the bland side. But it's quite common for people to decide to raise a family there. Nicest parts are the southern and western most parts of town. But as long as you're a decent distance (couple miles) away from the 110, you're good to go.

[skyway31]

Originally Posted by DFWtoLA

It sounds like maybe I do need to look a little closer at Torrance!

Look at what you expect to spend, and then search the listings to see what cost what where. If you can afford a beach city, or the southwestern most part of Torrance, do that. But if those are too expensive don't fret having to look in Torrance. It's fine as well.

[X14Freak]

Originally Posted by JohnG72

LOL, this is completely untrue. Whoever told you this is lying or does not know what they are talking about.

Theres a few areas of Torrance that border Harbor City or Gardena that aren't the greatest, but you would not be considering those areas(due to poorer school performance for the schools in those areas) anyway.

In fact, part of why Torrance is desireable is due to school performance.

California School Performance Maps

Basically anywhere you see all dark blue is going to be very nice upscale neighborhoods, anywhere you see mostly green or light blue is going to be nice safe middle class or upper middle class neighborhoods that are family friendly neighborhoods.

As you can see, most of Torrance is light or medium blue.

As an aside, Torrance is safer than Santa Monica, which still has some sketch neighborhoods, and also its transient problems at the beach. The entire beach of the South Bay(Redondo, Hermosa, Manhatten) is all WAY nicer than Santa Monica beach, and arguably the neighborhoods are also.

The real reason Santa Monica gets touted so highly is that its a liberal bastion, while the South Bay area leans politically conservative. Its all really noise, and of no consequence unless you're an intolerant person who can't stand that others have different ideas than yours.

One more thing...theres basically no neighborhoods in the westside(where Santa Monica is) like Torrance...that is a quiet homogenous ethnically mixed upper middle class area that is safe and has good public schools. Culver City comes closest but still is much more of a urban than suburban area. Torrance has a lot of traffic and commerce, but is much more traditional LA suburb than anything on the westside.

Even the worst parts of Torrance are quite safe compared to other parts of Los Angeles. The Torrance PD has a reputation for being quite overzealous and quasi-fascist (and even racist) and a lot of gangs and other troublesome malcontents stay away from Torrance due to this reputation.

[Cluckr7]

I live in Santa Monica and commute to Torrance and my morning commute is consistently 30 minutes. My afternoon commute is around 45 minutes. The 405 commute is completely reverse commute that way; the morning commute is 65 mph the entire way. The afternoon is 65 mph until about a mile before the 10 but still not bad. Completely doable and very easy.

That said you can only buy maybe a 2 BR condo for 700k in Santa Monica.