Santa Clarita? (Pasadena, South Pasadena: buying a home, buying, good schools)

[lovelyme200]

I might take a job in Santa Clarita. What is the area like? I used to live in Pasadena. Please compare for me thanks.

[BRinSM]

besides the fact that both are hot places in the summer, they are completely different. think old and urban vs. new and cookie cutter.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

besides the fact that both are hot places in the summer, they are completely different. think old and urban vs. new and cookie cutter.

yep, I would say about the same.

Nita

[sejinro]

Pasadena has better freeway options. There is only one way into Santa Clarita, the 14N or 5N if you are going to Valencia. During rush hours and weekends, those freeways are always jammed. I would say Santa Clarita is a few degrees warmer than Pasadena.

I vote Pasadena, because it has personality, history and culture.

[thespian666]

Working in SCV and living in SFV or SGV is an ideal med-distance commute in LA Co. Moving to SCV and working there would be ideal, only if SCV IS your ideal. It's very homogenized and even the difference between the "worst" parts of Canyon Country and the "best" parts of Stevenson Ranch/Valencia are barely as disparate as other cities within LA Co. If you crave security, "family friendly" and don't mind the 103 degree heat in the Summer, then it's a pleasant place to abide.

[Winston Smith]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

besides the fact that both are hot places in the summer, they are completely different. think old and urban vs. new and cookie cutter.

This sums it up well. Santa Clarita is a master-planned, car-based place. Pasadena is one of the oldest areas in the LA region, recently revitalized oriented around the Metro Gold Line, getting out walking, old style city streets with storefronts on a human scale. No one walks in SCV, where the streets are 8 lanes and growing. Suburban malls, chain stores and restaurants sprawl over the landscape. SCV has a nice bicycle and urban-trails network, I will say that. The Town Center is nice and situated right next to a main transit hub, but it's a small token compared to Pasadena's efforts. Pasadena has museums and old architecture. This is missing in SCV. I think you get the picture.

[FLIGHTSIMMER]

hot summers bad traffic and the 5 sucks too if you work in the vally or downtown, other than that it's not bad.

[72blackbird]

My wife and I lived in South Pasadena for more than four years before buying a home in Santa Clarita. As mentioned earlier, SCV doesn't have the history, culture, urban appeal of Pasadena or South Pas, but you can get better value for your money when you buy a home here, not as crowded and cleaner, less crime, good schools- a good place to live and raise a family.

Geno