Need your recommendation La Palma, Cypress, or Cerritos? (Irvine, Orange: low crime, buying a house)

[GuyFromFlorida]

Hi - I just got a job in El Segundo. The Metro Green Line goes from Norwalk to El Segundo so it seems an easy commute.

I've been recommended Cerritos... but I noticed that both La Palma and Cypress also have excellent schools, low crime rate, and their houses seem more affordable than Cerritos.

Can you please give me your recommendation I hope that someone can let me know more about the pros and cons of the different areas? - -

Thanks So Much!!!

[bhcompy]

All three are suburban.

Cerritos has the highest taxes being located in LA county, but is also the most prestigious. Cerritos also has a large asian population(Koreans, Filipinos, Japanese, etc). There are a few parts of the city that you'd probably want to avoid buying a house in simply because they border less desirable areas like southern Norwalk and Hawaiian Gardens. The city has a private library that is one of the best I've ever seen and has two major malls, along with a cheap, clean city bus system that takes you all around the city. Liberty Park, Heritage Park, and Cerritos Regional Park are all great parks. Odd facts: There are very few gas stations in the city and only one drive thru fast food restaurant(Chick-filet) in city limits. No street parking in residential areas overnight without a permit(or some cases not at all).

La Palma is the most urban of the three, but is still decidedly suburban. It is also fairly small. It has a small regional hospital, a few grocery stores, but no real shopping centers. The nearest mall would be Buena Park or Cerritos Town Center. Probably the least safe of the bunch and probably the least desirable schools, but that doesn't mean either are bad, just the lowest on the rung of the three.

Cypress is the most traditional family suburb of the three. Fairly large, mostly suburban housing, a few shopping centers, and lots of city activities for kids and families including robust sports programs.

If you have a family, I'd probably choose between Cerritos or Cypress. Cerritos is more prestigious, but I feel Cypress is the better family city and the school options are probably slightly better. If you have a child and he/she is brilliant, Oxford in Cypress is one of the top public high schools in the nation(as in top 5) and Whitney in Cerritos is very close behind. If you have a child in to sports, I'd definitely choose Cypress.

Cypress also borders Los Alamitos/Rossmoor, which is another great place to raise a family. Older style homes than Cypress or Cerritos(50s and 60s rather than 70s and 80s) and Rossmoor is one of the strongest family communities around. They don't have a top in the nation test-in school like Cerritos or Cypress, but the school district is second highest in average API in Orange County, so it's an excellent option.

[GuyFromFlorida]

Thanks bhcompy -

I really appreciate your insight. I will line them up in this order then:
1. Cypress
2. Cerritos
3. La Palma

I think more than likely we'll end-up in Cypress...

[smallkitty00]

Originally Posted by GuyFromFlorida

Thanks bhcompy -

I really appreciate your insight. I will line them up in this order then:
1. Cypress
2. Cerritos
3. La Palma

I think more than likely we'll end-up in Cypress...

I know this is an old thread but I wonder where you ended up with & how you like it. Thanks!

[quizzer25]

Originally Posted by bhcompy

All three are suburban.

Cerritos has the highest taxes being located in LA county, but is also the most prestigious. Cerritos also has a large asian population(Koreans, Filipinos, Japanese, etc). There are a few parts of the city that you'd probably want to avoid buying a house in simply because they border less desirable areas like southern Norwalk and Hawaiian Gardens. The city has a private library that is one of the best I've ever seen and has two major malls, along with a cheap, clean city bus system that takes you all around the city. Liberty Park, Heritage Park, and Cerritos Regional Park are all great parks. Odd facts: There are very few gas stations in the city and only one drive thru fast food restaurant(Chick-filet) in city limits. No street parking in residential areas overnight without a permit(or some cases not at all).

La Palma is the most urban of the three, but is still decidedly suburban. It is also fairly small. It has a small regional hospital, a few grocery stores, but no real shopping centers. The nearest mall would be Buena Park or Cerritos Town Center. Probably the least safe of the bunch and probably the least desirable schools, but that doesn't mean either are bad, just the lowest on the rung of the three.

Cypress is the most traditional family suburb of the three. Fairly large, mostly suburban housing, a few shopping centers, and lots of city activities for kids and families including robust sports programs.

If you have a family, I'd probably choose between Cerritos or Cypress. Cerritos is more prestigious, but I feel Cypress is the better family city and the school options are probably slightly better. If you have a child and he/she is brilliant, Oxford in Cypress is one of the top public high schools in the nation(as in top 5) and Whitney in Cerritos is very close behind. If you have a child in to sports, I'd definitely choose Cypress.

Cypress also borders Los Alamitos/Rossmoor, which is another great place to raise a family. Older style homes than Cypress or Cerritos(50s and 60s rather than 70s and 80s) and Rossmoor is one of the strongest family communities around. They don't have a top in the nation test-in school like Cerritos or Cypress, but the school district is second highest in average API in Orange County, so it's an excellent option.

Do you know if Cerritos or Cypress is better for Kids tennis and chess classes?

[jamsifoes]

Originally Posted by quizzer25

Do you know if Cerritos or Cypress is better for Kids tennis and chess classes?

I know Cerritos high schools have a very good tennis program. But what you have to know is if you kids are just casual players, they won't even make the high school team. The kids on the team start to take private lessons at a young age and already know how to play tennis and have USTA rankings. Same thing can be said about Irvine high schools. These kids hit like the pros if you ever get a chance to watch them practice at Woodbridge.

If you are just after the city sponsored tennis classes for the kids, I know for sure Cerritos offer tennis classes through the city. But the quality of instruction in these city classses are very hit and miss. I have experience with Irvine tennis classes offered by the city. I am a 4.0 player and I can beat some of these instructors. The bar to teach tennis is not set very high.

[quizzer25]

Originally Posted by jamsifoes

I know Cerritos high schools have a very good tennis program. But what you have to know is if you kids are just casual players, they won't even make the high school team. The kids on the team start to take private lessons at a young age and already know how to play tennis and have USTA rankings. Same thing can be said about Irvine high schools. These kids hit like the pros if you ever get a chance to watch them practice at Woodbridge.

If you are just after the city sponsored tennis classes for the kids, I know for sure Cerritos offer tennis classes through the city. But the quality of instruction in these city classses are very hit and miss. I have experience with Irvine tennis classes offered by the city. I am a 4.0 player and I can beat some of these instructors. The bar to teach tennis is not set very high.

Thanks again. My kid is still in elementary school and wants to continue playing tennis for pleasure and fitness, not in championships.

But Chess, hes already a UCSF rank/score (150) holder.