Palmdale/Lancaster/Santa Clarita (Los Angeles, Pasadena: apartments, to rent, salary)

[Rhaegon]

I've done a few searches for similar threads, so I know this topic has been bounced around over the years on this forum, but I'd like to have a discussion that includes updated information on the above areas.

I was recently offered a really great job by my company out in Palmdale, CA. As part of that offer, I went out and spent a few days in the area. I'd read some very bad things about Palmdale/Lancaster, but I thought the west side of Palmdale was very nice. I especially liked the Rancho Vista area. I was not super impressed with Lancaster (too rural) and I did not have a chance to head out to Santa Clarita.

That said, I'm having a difficult time deciding on whether I should take the offer or not. I do have the option of staying at my current job in NY. However, the new job would offer more interesting work and about a 12% pay increase.

My biggest hang-up is the location. As I mentioned before, I did visit, but I only spent three days in the area. Despite the fact that I was impressed with a few areas, I've read some very bad things about Palmdale/Lancaster on these forums.

I also spoke to some employees at the Palmdale location and they mentioned that the social scene was not great. This is a big negative for me, as I am 27 year old single guy that would like to settle down with a family in the next few years. Therefore, I've turned my sights to Santa Clarita which, according to the research I've done, is considered much nicer than Palmdale/Lancaster. It's also closer to LA & Burbank, which I have to assume will help with the lack of a social scene near my place of employment.

I wanted to get some opinions on the Santa Clarita area. Is it even possible to survive on a $85k salary out there? I'd like to rent for the first year, just so I have the ability to move if the area really does not agree with me. Are there many apartments in the area?

I do not mind a 30-45 minute commute, so that's not a tremendous concern for me. The biggest issue is the social scene. How is the social scene in SC itself? Will I feel disconnected from LA and Burbank if I'm 45 mins away? Have anyone here been in a similar situation?

Thanks!

[Count David]

Originally Posted by Rhaegon

Is it even possible to survive on a $85k salary out there?

LOL. That's more than enough.

-----------------------------------

The bad things you've heard/read about Lancaster/Palmdale (the AV) were spouted off by people who might think they're too good for the area. Whipping boys because they aren't considered classy. Generally, they are far-flung commuter suburbs for lower-middle class (and lower) people. They are what they are, and they have nice areas too.

Santa Clarita is happyfamilywithtwokidsandanSUV suburb, for the most part. It's nicer than AV generally, but I don't think it'd be any better for you socially. Closer to LA yes, but still suburbland. There are apartments everywhere.

What kind of social scene are you looking for exactly? If I were a single girl in LA (I'm not, I'm a married guy), I'd probably have hangups about a guy that lived "way up in Santa Clarita", that also commuted to Palmdale, that also commuted to LA for his social scene.

Heck, the simple fact that you'd have a job and an $85K salary would make you attractive to at least 75% of Palmdale. You could probably even find a woman with a ready-made family.

But seriously, even if you lived in Palmdale, the offerings of LA could easily be enjoyed on weekends. And there has to be something out there for young single professionals out there.....I mean they do have Starbucks.

DISCLAIMER: I moved to an even smaller desert town and found a social scene.....and a wife.

Good luck!

[shahm0nsterr]

Santa Clarita/Valencia is a very nice area. It is not too big, not to small. Ive been to Lancaster/Palmdale a few times, but I used to travel to Santa Clarita every weekend.
The social scene here is nice, it's not far from Los Angeles at all. In my opinion, Santa Clarita is loads better than Lancaster (which is isolated out in the desert)

[laysayfair]

Don't live in Palmdale or Lancaster. No one ever really volunteers for that as their first choice if they have a choice. If you came to LA on the weekends and told women you lived in Palmdale or Lancaster you would not have to worry about being mobbed by them.
Valencia and Santa Clarita is infinitely better.

[Rhaegon]

Thank you for the replies, guys. Do you think $85k is enough to live in Santa Clarita? I'll be renting (probably an apartment) for at least a year.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Rhaegon

Thank you for the replies, guys. Do you think $85k is enough to live in Santa Clarita? I'll be renting (probably an apartment) for at least a year.

If you're half as cheap an engineer as I am then it is way more than enough. (Are the initials of your company NG? LM?)

[VIBЄ]

I'll put it this way: You almost never hear anything gang related going on in Santa Clarita (probably because there's so many cops living there). And because it's not all isolated up in the high desert, a commute to downtown LA from SVC varies at a reasonable 35-100 minutes, and a 15-25 minute commute to SFV, and a 30-40 minute commute to SGV (if you take the 210).

A $85k salary will do you well if you shop around and find a good bargain. P.S. Can I have your job?

[edit]
The social scene seems to be alright. There's a number of restaurants/bars & music venues in and near the Valencia Town Center/Mall, but that all appears to be confined to one rather small pocket. And again the San Fernando valley and Pasadena are much closer than you would think.

If I had to choose a place to live in the LA area, Santa Clarita would definitely be in my top 3.

[00molavi]

Santaclaritasucks; Are you saying Lancaster is better or everything sucks? Let us know where you move and how you like it. I think if you are that negative about SC you won't be happy anywhere else either.

[elousv]

Well, I have lived in all three areas and Santa Clarita is far and away nicer than the Antelope Valley (Palmdale/Lancaster/Quartz Hill) in ALL respects. I am talking Valencia and Stevenson ranch mainly, not some of the so-so areas of Newhall and Saugus. Sure the west side of Palmdale is OK, but you still have to mingle with all the scum everywhere you go, and the scum per square mile in the AV is WAY up there. As far as being the same, I have seen 30 degree difference from the SCV to the AV, the AV being hotter. I have also seen 30mph difference in wind, the AV having the wind.

[the city]

All 3 are suburbs with job bases. The Edwards Airforce Base is in the Antelope Valley and there are several large companies in Santa Clarita.

Santa Clarita is the nicest. It has a new mall and one of the nicest known malls in America and has a high-end food market known as Whole Foods.

Palmdale is nicer than Lancaster. Has a nice big mall and Trader Joes. My aunt lives there and it's nice.

Sam's Club, Costco, and Wal-Mart Supercenter are in the Antelope Valley. It's very chain like.

Santa Clarita has more yuppies and also has a Wal-Mart Supercenter. Santa Clarita is also next to Six Flags.