Where to live in LA if working in North OC (Santa Ana)? (San Diego: to buy, bus)

[sglen]

I live in Los Feliz and just got a job in Santa Ana (northern part of Orange County) and was wondering how bad the commute would be if I stayed where I was? I would prefer not to move down to OC if I can help it.
I'm single, no kids, not looking to buy at this point. My job would have pretty regular hours - start time at 8 am and out by 5 pm.

Nobody likes to commute, but I'm thinking I might try out the hour commute (guessing here) so that I can stay in LA where my family and friends are. I'm also open to moving somewhere else in LA County that'd be a better commute, although Los Feliz doesn't seem badly situated since it's right off the 5.

[Fontucky]

At drive-time, that trek (LF to SA) would be closer to 2 hours than 1 hour. I shudder to think what it would be when an accident or rain is tossed into the picture.

[MattClyde]

your job ends at 5PM :O
that is a 2.5-3 hour commute from Santa Ana to Los Feliz at 5 PM usually. If you can, I suggest that you move to OC, the commute would be much better.

[pacific2]

Have you considered Diamond Bar? You could make it from there to Santa Ana in anywhere from about 30 to 40 minutes. The Southbound 57 traffic can be very heavy in the morning, so your best chance would be to start work early, if possible. Even then, it could be a bear.
The trip from Diamond Bar back to Los Feliz (on weekends?) to visit family and friends would take about 40 minutes with no traffic.
　

[bhcompy]

Check out the Metrolink, it's the only semi-viable choice for what you want. Otherwise, you might have a better commute if you lived in San Diego

[sglen]

Thanks for the info. I was thinking I could tolerate a one hour commute, but definitely not two or more. Is it really that bad? I guess I'll see for myself pretty soon. I will consider Diamond Bar, thanks. I've got a lot of research to do.

[seain dublin]

I love Los Feliz but I wouldn't wish that commute on my worst enemy. Like others said you're looking at two hours with the times you're working.

I just had a thought! Metrolink. You could take it from Union Station down to Santa Ana.

I used to take from the Valley to downtown and it beat driving.

[Vinsanity]

if you're considering Diamond Bar, you might as well be open to OC as well, since DB isn't really very close to either LA or Santa Ana.

Were in Santa Ana is your job? The city covers a pretty big area inside the 405, 22, and 55 freeways. if your job is close to the 22 or the 405, then Long Beach is probably the best compromise for you.

[sglen]

I'd be working right near the Courthouse on Civic Center Drive.
You're right about Diamond Bar, I wouldn't want to be that far from L.A. on the weekends, it would probably be better to just be in OC than DB.
I would love to take the Metrolink, I'd have to take a short bus ride after I got to the Santa Ana station though. Maybe that's not such a big deal? It would be nice to only have to deal with the train though.
Would the commute really be 2 hours even if I left at say 6:15 in the morning?

[Vinsanity]

well, if you find a place in Long Beach, you could hop on the 22E and 5S to get to work; that's maybe 20-30 minutes of freeway time during rush hour, depending on how backed-up the 22E/5S interchange gets.