Where to Live in between LA and Newport Beach? (Los Angeles: rent, safe area)

[joechin]

I work in Newport Beach, my wife works in Downtown LA. Any recommendations on where we should live? We're both 25-28 yr old working professionals looking for a fun place to live that is also safe. Thanks for the help!

[kwong7]

Unfortunately traffic would be bad for both of you if you lived in the middle (Long Beach, Cerritos, Lakewood, etc). My mother has worked in downtown LA for the past 25 years while living in Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach. Fortunately for her, she's taken and driven a 14 passenger commuter van from the Westminster Mall parking lot and the Huntington Beach park and ride to the DWP and LAPD buildings. You should see if that's an option for your wife.

If you don't mind the traffic to Newport Beach, I'd recommend Long Beach near Belmont Shore/Naples. There are a lot of bars, eateries, and boutiques which can make for a fun place to live. If you move there, I'd recommend PCH as route during the fall-spring season. I guess it also depends if you want to buy or rent as well. Perhaps you should give a few more details like your work hours, flexibility, what you like to do for fun, etc.

[mt971x]

Live in the Southbay, I think that is perfectly inbetween both.

[joechin]

Thanks for the help! I'll look into Belmont Shores.

mt971x - when you say South Bay, are you talking about Torrance?

[OC Investor2]

Irvine near the Spectrum. You can drive and she can take the train to LA

[mt971x]

Originally Posted by joechin

Thanks for the help! I'll look into Belmont Shores.

mt971x - when you say South Bay, are you talking about Torrance?

When I say South Bay, I am referring to this quoted by wikipedia

"The South Bay includes the Beach Cities (Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach), El Segundo, the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Inglewood, Hawthorne, Gardena, Carson, Lawndale, Harbor City, Torrance, Lomita, and San Pedro.[1] The region is bordered on the north by the Westside, on the northeast by South Los Angeles, on the east by the Gateway Cities, and on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean.

"

I personally recommend anywhere near the coast on the South bay of course, all this area is safe, but the beach areas are more expensive of course.

Either way, fair distance from southbay to downtown, and fair distance to oc, also a fun place to be, near the LAX, and West L.A and Santa Monica.

hope this helped

[Axiom]

Seriously Riverside 2011?

As annoying as it is, I guess copying and pasting the exact same response on every thread where Riverside might make some sort of sense can be overlooked.

But the OP on this thread has work locations in Newport Beach and downtown LA, and you suggest Riverside?

[toffee123]

How's Long Beach, I particularly like and refer to the Ocean Blvd/Downtown area. Is that a safe area? Decent schools? Does Downtown Long Beach has decent restaurants and shopping?

Thanks for helping.

[NaplesRes]

Originally Posted by toffee123

How's Long Beach, I particularly like and refer to the Ocean Blvd/Downtown area. Is that a safe area? Decent schools? Does Downtown Long Beach has decent restaurants and shopping?

Thanks for helping.

It's a fun, safe area but not a lot of families. It's urban so think city not suburb. Schools near downtown don't score well. If that is important you would want to get your kids into the schools on the east side of town. LB is school of choice so it's possible to do this but kids "in neighborhood" have first choice. You could look at Belmont Heights or east of there if school ratings are important.

[toffee123]

Originally Posted by NaplesRes

It's a fun, safe area but not a lot of families. It's urban so think city not suburb. Schools near downtown don't score well. If that is important you would want to get your kids into the schools on the east side of town. LB is school of choice so it's possible to do this but kids "in neighborhood" have first choice. You could look at Belmont Heights or east of there if school ratings are important.

Schools are not a factor, (until resale time ) I am a retiree with no grade school age kids. But I do want to be in a safe hood that I can walk around without constantly looking over my shoulder though.

BTW, do I need to worry about the pollution from the refineries and noise from vessels etc?

Thanks again.