El Segundo & Seal Beach! (Long Beach, Torrance: apartment, rental, job)

[Rush]

Hello,

I'm from NY and will be moving to Southern Cali this summer.

I just got a job offer in El Segundo, and my girlfriend just got a job offer in Seal Beach. They seem kinda far from eachother. Where would be a good place to live so that we are both kinda close to work? I'm hopin we can have a 15-20 commute each way to work.

Since our locations are limited, I guess we'd be willing to spend a little more than normal for rent. As long as it is under $1950 a month for a one or two bedroom, we'd consider it.

Thanks,
George

[EscapeCalifornia]

I don't think you could BOTH have a 15-20 minute commute unless one of you has a helicopter. The problem with working in those two cities is that there's a lot of ghetto in between them. Forget places like Carson or Gardena. Long Beach has some parts that aren't too horrible, but they might be too far from El Segundo for you. Torrance has the same problem, except its far from Seal Beach.

[Rush]

So there are no nice places to live between el segundo and seal beach? What if we went to work earlier than most people to beat the rush hour traffic (such as going to work at 6:45AM)?

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Rush

So there are no nice places to live between el segundo and seal beach? What if we went to work earlier than most people to beat the rush hour traffic (such as going to work at 6:45AM)?

The rush hours here are very long. I think you'd have to leave by at least 6:00am to beat the traffic. I'm sure someone closer to that particular area can give you some specifics, but in general most the the areas between El Segundo and Seal Beach are pretty bad unless you live so close to one that the other person spends forever driving to work.

[JackSparrow]

Well, if you can afford it, look at Rancho Palos Verdes. Also, San Pedro has a nice section, but it also has complete crap areas. Long Beach is the same. I have lived in Long Beach and San Pedro. I have ALSO lived in Seal Beach. Seal Beach is by far one of the nicest areas I have lived in, while in California.

The rest of it comes down to money and preference. Some people prefer to live close to work, so they don't have a long commute. Other people prefer to live where they are happy- with the sacrifice of a commute.

I am not sure if Westside rentals covers that area. Craigslist will get you started.

[newportbeachsmostwanted]

El Segundo and Seal Beach are both great places to live! Unfortunately, I hear, that's where you're both working. Well, Redondo Beach may be a good midway point. It's very safe and clean. Long Beach offers some very attractive neighborhoods as well. As said above, there's a LOT OF GHETTO between Seal and El Segundo- so be careful.

[Rush]

Thanks for the input guys. I guess it's down to either Redondo Beach or Long Beach. I'll look around Rancho Palos Verdes as well.

I keep hearing that Long Beach has good and bad areas. Where are its attractive areas?

Are there any nice/decent apartment communities in these areas that you know of? I'll look up westside rentals as well.

Thanks,
George

[PureHapa]

Between El Segundo and Seal Beach are these nice places to live:

Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach (north and south), Torrance, Palos Verdes Peninsula cities. These are all west and south of the 405 freeway.

[PastFutureCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Rush

Thanks for the input guys. I guess it's down to either Redondo Beach or Long Beach. I'll look around Rancho Palos Verdes as well.

I keep hearing that Long Beach has good and bad areas. Where are its attractive areas?

Are there any nice/decent apartment communities in these areas that you know of? I'll look up westside rentals as well.

Thanks,
George

I would agree with Long Beach and RPV. Long Beach does have some good and bad areas. Although I'm not a resident of Long Beach (but live about 7 miles away), I believe: the North/North-East portions of Long Beach nearest the city of Lakewood would be fairly safe, and as the portion has nearby parks/golf courses (El Dorado Park, Heartwell, Skylinks, would be more family oriented. And parts of Downtown Long Beach (nearest Ocean/Atlantic) and most coastal areas such as Belmont Shores have higher costs of living areas. But I would certainly take a drive through these areas to ensure it would be a right fit for you.

I visited a friend who lived in a high-rise apartment on Ocean Blvd./Cherry Ave. and it was a very nice apartment.

[dennismpat]

Originally Posted by PureHapa

Between El Segundo and Seal Beach are these nice places to live:

Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach (north and south), Torrance, Palos Verdes Peninsula cities. These are all west and south of the 405 freeway.

I pretty much agree with this list of cities as being a midway point between El Segundo and Seal Beach. You might also want to consider where I live, Lakewood, or the city next door to the east, Cerritos, both of which are nice communities. Although, driving to El Segundo from either Lakewood or Cerritos on the 105 going west in the morning and again in the late afternoon could be brutal. If your employer allows flexibility with your work hours, then it might be worth the commute.