Family Friendly Suburbs - Commute to Culver City (Torrance, Pasadena: homes, neighborhoods)

[LuvSouthOC]

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...2_M19426-49359

[paigemadison]

LoveMeSomeSFVHouses - thank you so much for all the information!! We have two early elementary school age children - we want to choose a place with decent schools all the way to high school, because if we love it we'd like to stay put for them. They are very young but I already feel terrible moving them from the good friends they have already!

I've read Culver City & Glendale have their own school systems that aren't bad - but we can't afford anything in Culver City that works for us. Glendale maybe. I am not a city person (my husband is), but I like suburbia. I'm going to look into Woodland Hills/West Hills/Granada Hills. I started looking at Agoura Hills & Thousand Oaks - we can't afford Calabasas. We can get a small single family in Agoura & Thousand Oaks - but I know that's getting further out. Of course once I started looking in Agoura & Thousand Oaks, I starting hearing how Woodland Hills is undesirable because it's still LAUSD, but seems like it's a better one of the bunch.

On commute - if my husband leaves at 5:30AM/5:45AM, it looks like from Agoura he can get to Culver City in around an hour, give or take. On the return, leaving at 4:00PM it's 1.5-2.00 hours. Is that about right? (I know this doesn't sound pleasant, but if the AM is okay he may be able to deal with the PM - he's had many crazy commutes in other congested cities.)

It's not unheard of to commute from the SFV - even as far as Thousand Oaks - is it? I'm searching as hard as I can for a better option - Woodland Hills, etc may be it, but other than that, since I don't like very urban environments in general, want to avoid LAUSD schools & can't afford private schools or the areas close to Culver City with their own systems, SFV is kind of our only option I think.

Really appreciate everyone's advice & helpful information, this whole area was foreign to me a few days ago and at least I'm starting to understand it all a little better now. Thank you!!! (Any additional advice/ideas?personal experience appreciated!!)

[FullArmor]

I say Thousand Oaks 100%. I'm a bit biased since I grew up there, but it really is an excellent place for families. Great schools, great community and safe. Ventura County, in general, is really nice and I think you'll be much happier there. Best of luck with your move!

[paigemadison]

RyanMs3030 - Thank you for the demographic census information. That shows a nice mix of cultures/races. The concerns I had were schools that were almost 90% Hispanic and 10% white, I simply would prefer being among a mix, I did not ask to be the majority, but I do prefer not to be a minority. The other concern (and genuine confusion) that I had was how free/reduced lunch percentages were above 50% in towns where minimum housings were $700K. Others took the time to explain why to me and I appreciate the info. Thanks!

[LuvSouthOC]

https://demographics.virginia.edu/DotMap/

[ryanms3030]

Originally Posted by paigemadison

RyanMs3030 - Thank you for the demographic census information. That shows a nice mix of cultures/races. The concerns I had were schools that were almost 90% Hispanic and 10% white, I simply would prefer being among a mix, I did not ask to be the majority, but I do prefer not to be a minority. The other concern (and genuine confusion) that I had was how free/reduced lunch percentages were above 50% in towns where minimum housings were $700K. Others took the time to explain why to me and I appreciate the info. Thanks!

Judging by other posts my ultimate recommendation would be rent for a year before you buy. It's clear by your posts that you're not very familiar with Los Angeles. Your concept of what is city/urban vs suburban is very different here compared to other parts of the country. There are not many parts of LA that would be considered "the city" in the same way as NYC, Chicago, Boston, DC, SF or other major cities. LA is basically one big sprawling suburb filled with strip malls. You probably aren't going to be in Culver City or Glendale and feel like you are in the big city other then the massively dense population and traffic which you'll also have in Agora, Thousand Oaks, Woodland Hills or any of the other "suburban" areas.

[elhelmete]

Originally Posted by paigemadison

RyanMs3030 - Thank you for the demographic census information. That shows a nice mix of cultures/races. The concerns I had were schools that were almost 90% Hispanic and 10% white, I simply would prefer being among a mix, I did not ask to be the majority, but I do prefer not to be a minority. The other concern (and genuine confusion) that I had was how free/reduced lunch percentages were above 50% in towns where minimum housings were $700K. Others took the time to explain why to me and I appreciate the info. Thanks!

Magnet schools. Charters as a (sometimes) distant second. Opens up lots of neighborhoods.

[elhelmete]

Originally Posted by ryanms3030

Judging by other posts my ultimate recommendation would be rent for a year before you buy. It's clear by your posts that you're not very familiar with Los Angeles. Your concept of what is city/urban vs suburban is very different here compared to other parts of the country. There are not many parts of LA that would be considered "the city" in the same way as NYC, Chicago, Boston, DC, SF or other major cities. LA is basically one big sprawling suburb filled with strip malls. You probably aren't going to be in Culver City or Glendale and feel like you are in the big city other then the massively dense population and traffic which you'll also have in Agora, Thousand Oaks, Woodland Hills or any of the other "suburban" areas.

True, and I agree.

Woodland Hills, and West Hills even more so, are far from urban in the vein of NYC/Chi/etc. Culver is a nice small city, but has jumped the shark...got 'discovered' a handful of years ago.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by elhelmete

Magnet schools. Charters as a (sometimes) distant second. Opens up lots of neighborhoods.

Still risky though in case the kids don't get in. Better to just avoid LAUSD neighborhoods. There are other reasons to avoid those neighborhoods, as most of them are in the city of L.A. and thus have subpar public services.

[elhelmete]

Originally Posted by majoun

Still risky though in case the kids don't get in. Better to just avoid LAUSD neighborhoods. There are other reasons to avoid those neighborhoods, as most of them are in the city of L.A. and thus have subpar public services.

We get it...