Moving to Long Beach from San Diego, work near the airport (Lakewood: apartment, rent)

[cassiesd]

Hi all!

I have found some useful information about LB but since most of those threads are pretty old, I would be grateful for any updated info!

I am a single woman in early 20s, not into clubbing/partying/nightlife, recently accepted a job near the LB airport. Have been living in San Diego for 10+ years but know nothing about LB except some scary stories told by my friends.

As I will be living alone (for the first time!), safety is my #1 concern and wish to seek advice on what neighborhoods to live in/ avoid.

My budget will be around $1200-1300 (if possible??) for a studio/ one-bedroom apartment.

Any info/ comment/ advice will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!

[JohnG72]

Anything east, south, and north is fine...to the east, bixby knolls is ok, avoid everything else. Signal Hills is ok too. Best to stay east of Redondo ave in Long Beach. Lakewood is ok too as are the nearby oc towns. You really should have no problems finding a place in your price range.

As with everyone else who says Long Beach is dangerous, they clearly don't understand it's a city of 450,000+ and like any other city that size, it has good and bad areas.

[Chowhound]

The more east and south you go in LB is generally nicer. I live near the airport myself and anything east of Lakewood blvd is pretty good, south of the 405 while staying generally east of Lakewood is fine, Lakewood blvd ends at the circle and all of the neighborhoods around that are good.

Your budget might be a little tough, unless you rent a room or have roommates.

[LBNative]

I would like to add something to JohnG72 posts, North Long Beach isn't the best area, I will even say as a whole that area is the worst area of Long Beach. Anything North of Market can get dicey real quick. You can get a studio for 1200-1400 in Belmont Shores. That area is lovely.

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

Belmont Shore