Commute to Carson (Los Angeles, Garden Grove, Torrance: schools, place to live, mall)

[pocyhontas]

K, so we are moving to Cali, husband is working in Carson. Which interstate is better to be commuting in on... the 405 or the 91? We have looked at areas like Seal Beach, Los Alamitos down the 405 and La Palma/Fullerton down the 91. Any thoughts?

Is Fullerton/Placentia/Yorba Linda way too far of a commute? How about Fountan Valley or Alisa Viejo/Laguna Beach area?

Note: Moving there from Texas, unfamiliar with area. Looking to move further out from Carson to get more for our money. Redondo Beach was mentioned on here as a good place to live near Carson, but feel we can get more for our money other places, have a child so schools are very impo.

Thanks for any advice!!
ang

[EscapeCalifornia]

Aliso Viejo, Laguna Beach, Fullerton, Placentia, Yorba Linda are all too far. Seal Beach or Los Alamitos should be OK. Fountain Valley is about as far as I'd go. Even that'll be a drag 5 days a week especially at $4.60/g for gas. All the freeways suck at rush hours but the 91 inhabits a deeper circle of hell in most people's experience.

[pootie562]

I have the same commute as you do, but my job is even further it is off the 110 in Harbor City. I live in Cypress, the area where the 405 and 22 meet and just check sig alert before leaving for work to see how traffic is. If it is bad I just take side streets and all streets like katella go straight into carson, carson street goes into carson and it just takes 35 minutes. I used to live in Lakewood and the 91 west is terrible in the morning and I do not even know if their carpool is finished yet.

[pocyhontas]

Thanks for both of your opinions. Pootie, I will look at those streets, info you gave is definitely helpful.

[Drowningintherain2]

What's wrong with Torrance? It would be the closest and it's very family oriented.

[pocyhontas]

I don't know much about Torrance.... have not gotten a lot of positive feedback on it, although to be honest, I have not gotten much info on Torrance at all. When we were there visiting the area, we did go into Torrance, they had a great mall area (where PF Changs is) and I did enjoy the area. Are the schools good there?

[Drowningintherain2]

Originally Posted by pocyhontas

I don't know much about Torrance.... have not gotten a lot of positive feedback on it, although to be honest, I have not gotten much info on Torrance at all. When we were there visiting the area, we did go into Torrance, they had a great mall area (where PF Changs is) and I did enjoy the area. Are the schools good there?

Torrance is a pretty big city and most of it is quite safe. The best areas are West Torrance and South Torrance. If I were you I might also look into the area that borders Redondo Beach or South Redondo itself. I would really avoid east Torrance though. The middle - highschools have ratings of 8-10 for API. I think these two sites would be useful GreatSchools.net and LA Life - Find Your Place in Los Angeles

[punkrocker27ka]

If you want to live in Orange County you could live near a Metrolink station and then take the train and connect to the Green Line at Norwalk and then to the Blue line at 103/Wilmington. Taking the Blue Line south would run near next door to Carson where you could just catch a bus to your office. It certainly would save you gas. Just a thought.

[EricJess123]

Stay at least a 30 min distence from Carson.

I would Look in the Roosmoor, Los Alimitos, Seal Beach, West Garden Grove Area