Moving to LA with Kids, concerned! (Pasadena, Orange: daycares, house, job transfer)

[lilybel]

All --

My husband is in the interviewing stages for a job in downtown LA. We have two kids, one 5 about to go into Kindergarten, one 8 months who would need possible daycare (considering the nanny route as well).

I am interested in hearing about areas that would have good public schools, not a bad commute (30 mins - 1 hour) (possible??? Husband is ok with using the train line), and a nice, safe, family friendly community. I work from home full time.

Our budget is up to $600,000.

Thanks for the advice!!!

[missionhome]

Potential option:

Fullerton in Orange County. There are many home available in your price range of $600,000. Concentrate on northern Fullerton, above Chapman Avenue. The schools in the area are excellent. Troy and Sunny Hills High School are among the best in the country. The elementary and middle schools that feed these two schools are very good as well. The area is nice and there is good shopping and a downtown in Fullerton as well.

If he takes the Metrolink Commuter Rail he can be into downtown under an hour. I don't know specifically where his job is in downtown though because he may need to connect to the subway or a bus to get to the specific job site in downtown. I would say in a solid hour he could do this commute and you will be living in a great area and afford a home.

[uptown_urbanist]

Consider South Pasadena - it's an extremely family-friendly area between LA and Pasadena. It's a straight shot downtown on the Gold Line (light rail), which is a very pleasant ride (and cheaper than Metrolink). You should be able to get something under $600,000 in South Pasadena, depending on what size and style of house you're looking for. South Pas has sort of the mythical small town feel; streets of beautifully-maintained bungalows lined with big trees, kids riding their bikes, nice parks, a downtown farmer's market, even a soda fountain on Old Route 66. There are wild parrots, too, which I think is a nice CA touch. You've probably seen South Pas in all sorts of movies - they film there all the time when looking for something non-stereotypically Southern CA in appearance, or at least with fewer palm trees. A lot of the house exteriors in Back the Future, for example, were filmed there, plus tons of more recent movies.

South Pasadena has a good school system, and most of the families on my block (we don't live there anymore, although I really, really miss it) moved there for the schools. There are three elementary schools, one junior high, and one high school, and there's a strong sense of community that centers on the schools, even for those who don't have kids there.

A lot of people in South Pasadena work downtown, and it's either a really easy train ride (the Mission Station is right in the heart of South Pasadena) or a fairly quick drive - maybe 40 minutes, possibly less at the right time, which is a pretty good commute for LA.

Check old threads for more information, but really, I can't say enough good things about South Pasadena. It's safe, beautiful, has decent public transportation options, nice parks, good schools, lots of independent stores, a strong sense of community, a nice library (with activities for kids), and is within easy commuting distance of downtown, as well as really close to Pasadena. There's a wonderful Thursday evening farmer's market, too, held year-round by the station.

As far as daycares go, there's not many within city limits (there's a gap there that could be filled!), but plenty of good options within fairly close distance. My son went to a fabulous home-based daycare near Caltech (not too far from South Pasadena); you can PM me if you decide in or near South Pasadena or Pasadena and want the contact info. We moved before my son started preschool, but South Pasadena (and nearby Pasadena) have many great preschool options, as well.

We would have never left South Pasadena if it weren't for my husband's job transfer, as it really was such an ideal place for a family with kids.

[nmnita]

I second So Pasadena if you can find something in your price range. OC would be my second choice but depending on traffice the commute might be a little long. Hubby could do it in an hour. Other areas, Burbank and Temple City. Arcadia is nice but probably out of the price range. There are towns with great schools a lttle further east, but the commute would be too long.

Nita

[lesallimc]

I third South Pas.

[KnoxTown]

4th on South Pasadena