looking for nice city near LA-OC boarder (Long Beach, Garden Grove: homes, safe area)

[fiveinOC]

looking for input on moving to a city near LA-OC boarder. looking for a nice, safe, family neighborhood with good schools for our 3 daughters. commutes are to El Segundo and Orange (22 and i5)

Cities we're considering:
Cerritos, La Palma, Cypress, and "good parts" of Buena Park, Long Beach, and Lakewood. also like La Mirada and Sunny Hills area of Fullerton - $550~$650 budget

Thanks!

[ragnarkar]

Cypress has the best schools.. also add Cerritos to the list. Fullerton has Troy High which is a one of the best in the nation but I'm not sure about the rest.

Take a look at: Top California High Schools | Best High Schools | US News - US News

See how Cypress is #1 in the list?

[RudyOD]

Originally Posted by ragnarkar

Cypress has the best schools.. also add Cerritos to the list. Fullerton has Troy High which is a one of the best in the nation but I'm not sure about the rest.

Take a look at: Top California High Schools | Best High Schools | US News - US News

See how Cypress is #1 in the list?

The question is if their kids are naturally gifted or if they are more middle range academically. If it is the former, Cypress and Cerritos are ideal as both Oxford Academy and Whitney High School cater to those kids. If they are more middle range, average per se, than they are better off going to schools like Troy or Sunny Hills, which are great schools for all types of kids, not just gifted ones.

In terms of Buena Park, the city is split into various school districts, so I would look at maps of school boundaries. We have family friends who live in the northern part of the city, in the hilly parts near Fullerton, and they went to Sunny Hills. I live in the part of Buena Park that is touching La Palma and got to go to Walker Jr. High and Kennedy High School, both are awesome schools (diverse, variety of curricular activities including great sports programs, and challenging academic magnet programs for those that want them) even if not ranked best in the state.

Stay away from the part of Buena Park that willl land your kids in Buena Park High School or Jr. High...they aren't bad schools per se, but you have plenty of better options around you.

[thelopez2]

A family of 5 can find a place in those locations for $650 a month?

[RudyOD]

Originally Posted by thelopez2

A family of 5 can find a place in those locations for $650 a month?

I think they intend to buy a home that is within the price range of $550 and $650 thousand.

[k81689]

Originally Posted by RudyOD

I think they intend to buy a home that is within the price range of $550 and $650 thousand.

Still a pretty tight budget for a OC SFH with good schools. If it is a down payment, go for sunny hill.

[fiveinOC]

thanks, some good insight so far.
...and yes, $550-$650K is to buy a home; could stretch to $700K if really worth it and turnkey.
kids are Pre-K, elementary, and one starting middle school next year.

[Joe Van Fossen]

Any of the areas you mentioned could work within your budget. I've actually been looking in Cypress/La Palma/Los Alamitos for myself lately and a good friend of mine is currently in escrow in a nice area of Long Beach. Something similar to what you're looking for, but slightly smaller.

[russlancea]

Also Westside of Garden Grove. Safe area, nice homes, midway to your jobs, and good public schools. A friend just got an outdated 4 bed for $480k.

[BRinSM]

live as far west as possible, traffic to el segundo is absolutely awful.