Best place to live commutable to Thousand Oaks & East LA (Glendale: house, transfer to)

[jhayden73]

Hi,

We will be relocating from Philly to the greater LA area. My husband will be working in Thousand Oaks. We understand that the schools near there are good.

However, I have been interviewing for a job in East LA. I presume Thousand Oaks to E. LA is a horrendous commute.

Also, we can get a lot more house for the money in Simi Valley. How long could I expect it to take me to drive from Simi to E. LA vs. Thousand Oaks to E. LA?

How do the schools in Simi compare vs. Thousand Oaks? Are there other good, safe, family neighborhoods that you would recommend. (House budget is around $800k. Hoping for 5bd, 3ba and a pool).

Thanks!

[BRinSM]

schools in TO are some of the best in all of southern california. Simi also has good schools, but not at the same level. Simi to ELA would be rough though. getting to either location from any midpoint is not going to be fun, either one or both of you will have a miserable commute. maybe consider somewhere like la crescenta, which will allow your husband to use the 118 and 23 freeways to access TO (traffic is much lighter on these freeways than the 101). La Crescenta will also be considerably closer to ELA, while still having good schools.

[buzzkillb]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

schools in TO are some of the best in all of southern california. Simi also has good schools, but not at the same level. Simi to ELA would be rough though. getting to either location from any midpoint is not going to be fun, either one or both of you will have a miserable commute. maybe consider somewhere like la crescenta, which will allow your husband to use the 118 and 23 freeways to access TO (traffic is much lighter on these freeways than the 101). La Crescenta will also be considerably closer to ELA, while still having good schools.

That's a good suggestion. I commuted from Glendale to Thousand Oaks and it was only fun because I bought a new older Porsche for the drive. I would also plan on going to the gym after work to sort of miss the worst of rush hour coming back to Glendale. Depending on what part of East LA, Pasadena, Montrose and Burbank could be some other options to look at. La Crescenta and La Canada are nicer though.

[saybanana]

Depending where the job is in East L.A and the hours you might work, you maybe able to commute using Ventura Metrolink (nearest from TO is Moorpark) into Union Station and another Metrolink, bus or the Gold Line if your job is near there. Thats just a commute option.

[HarryKerryJr]

The Gold Line serves the east side of LA and East LA proper. Check to see if your job is near the Gold Line. The Gold Line is the SAFEST and CLEANEST of all the rail lines and the people on board--in the eastern portion--outclass all other rail riders except for those in Pasadena. Gold Line runs every 6-7 minutes during rush hours. The ride form Union Station to the very last station in East LA is about 23 minutes, and the time goes by fast.

While Thousand Oaks isn't really close to a Metrolink commuter rail station, that drive from Thousand Oaks to Ventura County Line Metrolink will be FAR better than driving all the way to East LA. The good thing is taking the Metrolink to Union Station is easy to do. When you arrive at Union Station, you then transfer to the Gold Line to East LA. The transfer is a very short walk to the platform, and your Metrolink ticket or monthly pass INCLUDES fare for Metro, so no extra fare to ride Gold Line. Also, your Metrolink MONTHLY PASS ONLY allows you to board all Amtrak Pacific Surfliners between the two points on your pass at NO additional charge. This allows you use Amtrak service to supplement Metrolink service. In fact, I think one morning southbound Amtrak Pac Surf is a Metrolink Ventura County Line/Amtrak combo service train.

Research at the following sites:

www-dot-mta-net for Gold Line to East LA

www-metrolink-trains-dot-com for commuter train service on Ventura Count Line to Union Station

www-dot-amtrak-dot-com/train-schedules-timetables For Amtrak Pacific Surfliners serving Ventura County stations.

It is quite a distance and horrid commute from Thousand Oaks to East LA. If Gold Line can work for you, you are MUCH better off taking the train. It will keep you from ending your life.