Is Southern CA really so bad? (Los Angeles, Glendale: middle-class, rent, condo)

[Sunny225]

Hi, my family is planning on moving to CA soon from RI, so I've been doing research. After reading about SoCal in this forum it seems that the people and neighborhoods are segregated into 2 sections - very rich or very poor. Is this really so? Where in the LA area would a middle-class family fit? (Decent high schools, safe neighborhood). Reading about "infamous Latino gangs" has kind of terrified me.

Please tell me that all of this negativity about SoCal isn't true... someone give me some hope that CA is as great as I think it is.

[the one]

it is a great place. dont beleive the hype. check out cities like glendale, alhambra, monterrey park, downey, cerritos, pasadena, s.pas, santa monica, culver city. and many many areas of LA proper. mt wash. silver lake. los feliz. atwater. etc etc.

its a lot of exageration really.

but def tell your folks to do their research before picking a "home"

[missionhome]

It helps to know what middle class is defined as by you. Somebody will say, "I make $40k a year, have three kids, and am middle class here in Oklahoma City." Then they ask, "Where do the middle class people looking for $200k homes live?"

Then we have to tell them: "Sorry but you are poor by California standards, have fun renting or buying a 2 bedroom condo in the ghetto for the rest of your life as you try to live on $40k with three kids in this area!"


----It is easier to recommend places when we know some specifics: Home or rent price range (can you afford $550k, $850k, $100k, etc... or $2,500 per month, $4,000 per month, $3,000 per month, etc...), where you (or your spouse) will be working, and whether you want to be in a specific location of Southern California (close to Los Angeles, near the beach, near the mountains, etc...)

I would recommend a place like Thousand Oaks for example, but if you tell me you are working in Walnut, CA which is 68 miles away, then that isn't such a great recommendation. Once we know work location and home price we will be able to get to work and really help you!!

Schools are important to look at too. Just because a neighborhood is rich or middle class, the public high schools it attends aren't necessarily good (avoid LAUSD) and parents in those neighborhoods may pay for private school. (although often the schools are good in these areas, like San Marino, South Pasadena, La Canada, Calabasas, Manhattan Beach, Seal Beach, Yorba Linda, Thousand Oaks, etc...)

Use this map to find schools: http://schoolperformancemaps.com/ca/
Be sure to click on "secondary schools" at the top and then you can explore the L.A. area. High schools that are 7/10 or better are a good place to start or consider, 9/10 or 10/10 are the best.

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by Sunny225

After reading about SoCal in this forum it seems that the people and neighborhoods are segregated into 2 sections - very rich or very poor. Is this really so?

No. Emphatically no. Take the haters with a grain of salt.

[bhcompy]

To me, the basic definition of what you asked for(decent schools, safe area) would be Lakewood. Great neighborhoods, schools that are 7-8 out of 10 on a general scale(you get what you put in I believe), and affordable for california middle class standards

[KnoxTown]

It depends on how much money you make.

[fastfilm]

IMHO of five decades here, both missionhome and knoxtown offer good assessments. Good luck in your relocation, it's why we're all online here.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Sunny225

Hi, my family is planning on moving to CA soon from RI, so I've been doing research. After reading about SoCal in this forum it seems that the people and neighborhoods are segregated into 2 sections - very rich or very poor. Is this really so? Where in the LA area would a middle-class family fit? (Decent high schools, safe neighborhood). Reading about "infamous Latino gangs" has kind of terrified me.

Please tell me that all of this negativity about SoCal isn't true... someone give me some hope that CA is as great as I think it is.

Sunny,

It is true, So California isn't what it was 20, or more years ago, but there are great areas that are not filled with gangs or only for the very rich. I don't know what income bracket you are in, what you are thinking about housing prices or if you will need to be close to Los Angelses or wherever you are re-locating to. In and around Los Angeles middle class areas: Glendale, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, parts of Pasadena, Temple City, parts of Torrance, and many parts of OC. All these areas have good to very good schools and are middle income, with some being upscale. I didn't mention the San Fernando Valley as I don't know that much about it. I do know areas like Simi Valley are great communities, but that is a long way form Los Angeles if you need to be close to downtown..

Nita

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by the one

it is a great place. dont beleive the hype. check out cities like glendale, alhambra, monterrey park, downey, cerritos, pasadena, s.pas, santa monica, culver city. and many many areas of LA proper. mt wash. silver lake. los feliz. atwater. etc etc.

its a lot of exageration really.

but def tell your folks to do their research before picking a "home"

I had forgotten about So Pasa, not knowing what the Op has in mind, I don't think I would be consentrating on some of those towns you mentioned but it she/he will have to judge for themselves about that.

Nita

[Mr Floyd]

We live in Eagle Rock. My wife is a counselor at the South Pasadena Middle School. I grew up in Eagle Rock, moved away for school and the beginning of life away from my folks, then moved back in 1987. The area has changed a lot since 1959 (when I was born). To some old schoolers it's all bad. Apparently mostly because of an influx of different cultures...Filipino, Armenian, Chinese, Hispanic etc...To me, that is a positive and makes it all the more interesting.

Today home values have held their own in Eagle Rock. Not cheap but not as pricey as neighboring Glendale, parts of Pasadena and definately South Pasadena (be prepared for sticker shock there especially). The area has a small town feel even though 10 miles from downtown. The high school has a highly regarded magnate program and there are two public elementary / middle schools.

I love the area. Very organic (lots of artists) and very middle class. I walk to Trader Joes and a host of restaurants. I have also done the mountainbike / ski / surf in one day excursion.

It's all here including the bad elements (like most cities in certain areas).

To say it's all bad is to be closed minded or to be an elitist from the East Coast.

I love the Rock!