Relocating From Tampa to Palmdale, CA where should I Live (Los Angeles: apartment complexes, rentals)

[youngnavyvet]

I just received a job offer with and aerospace company in Palmdale and I would like to know a good place to live. I’m married 2 school age kids and my wife will most likely work in L.A. we need a midway point.

[volosong]

Rancho Vista, west of the freeway. That's if you live in Palmdale. A good halfway location is Valencia. From there, you'll be commuting against the traffic. Your wife will have it tough, but if she works in the Valley, it will be a fairly short, albeit hectic commute.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by youngnavyvet

I just received a job offer with and aerospace company in Palmdale and I would like to know a good place to live. I’m married 2 school age kids and my wife will most likely work in L.A. we need a midway point.

Midway between Palmdale and LA? One of you will be pending a lot of time on the FRWY.

[cornsnicker3]

Originally Posted by youngnavyvet

I just received a job offer with and aerospace company in Palmdale and I would like to know a good place to live. I’m married 2 school age kids and my wife will most likely work in L.A. we need a midway point.

It is a horrific drive. Why do you assume she will need a job in Los Angeles? If you both work in Palmdale or Lancaster, you have a ton of options.

[kttam186290]

Originally Posted by volosong

Rancho Vista, west of the freeway. That's if you live in Palmdale. A good halfway location is Valencia. From there, you'll be commuting against the traffic. Your wife will have it tough, but if she works in the Valley, it will be a fairly short, albeit hectic commute.

+1

I have a brother there in Rancho Vista (West Palmdale) and he and his wife love it. They have two kids.

It's a good neighborhood.

If you can afford it, Acton is a ranch-themed community on the southern edge of Palmdale.

West Lancaster (93536) and Quartz Hill are good too, but they are further north of Palmdale.

Why does your wife need to work in LA?

[ryanms3030]

I agree that Santa Clarita/Valencia could work. I live in Santa Clarita and commute to Burbank and it takes me 35-45 min each way on average. Depending on where you in Santa Clarita and where in LA/SFV your wife has to commute it could easily take 1-2 hours each way. If your wife worked in downtown LA or on the west side for example the commute from Palmdale could be 3 hours each way.

Commuting from Santa Clarita to Palmdale for you would probably be 45 minutes on average. Don't underestimate LA traffic and it's only getting worse. It's especially getting worse coming to and from Palmdale to LA on the 14 and will keep getting worse as the Santa Clarita is set to see a huge build out of new homes and you have to pass through that traffic to get from Palmdale to LA or SFV. The best answer as suggested was have your wife find a job in Palmdale/Lancaster or close to it. Salaries might not be as high but you also need to consider the cost of gas and wear on car. Gas is constantly around $3.50-4/gallon here and potentially driving 120 miles or more round trip every day will add up.

On another note, Valencia and some of the other communities in Santa Clarita have excellent public school systems. Palmdale has terrible schools. If you have kids that might be something to consider. There is a lot of business in Santa Clarita also and it's expanding as companies are moving there from LA and SFV now and there is also planned expansion of office and industrial parks in the next 10+ years so there will probably be more jobs moving there so your wife may be able to find a decent job there and then you would just have to deal with the commute to and from Palmdale from Santa Clarita

[kttam186290]

Originally Posted by ryanms3030

On another note, Valencia and some of the other communities in Santa Clarita have excellent public school systems. Palmdale has terrible schools. If you have kids that might be something to consider. There is a lot of business in Santa Clarita also and it's expanding as companies are moving there from LA and SFV now and there is also planned expansion of office and industrial parks in the next 10+ years so there will probably be more jobs moving there so your wife may be able to find a decent job there and then you would just have to deal with the commute to and from Palmdale from Santa Clarita

Not necessarily. The Greg Anderson Academy, SOAR High School, Hillview Middle School and Rancho Vista Elementary in Palmdale are all very good. It boils down to parental support and involvement more than anything else.

[youngnavyvet]

She doesn’t have to work in LA she is a Human Resources professional so I’m sure opportunities will come from all over. Thing is I will have to head west first to start work and find living arrangements as she won’t be out until after the holidays. Once she gets there she will start applying to jobs and We like to be in a mid way area so she can have as many opportunities as possible. Also the school system is extremely important.

[youngnavyvet]

Originally Posted by kttam186290

+1

I have a brother there in Rancho Vista (West Palmdale) and he and his wife love it. They have two kids.

It's a good neighborhood.

If you can afford it, Acton is a ranch-themed community on the southern edge of Palmdale.

West Lancaster (93536) and Quartz Hill are good too, but they are further north of Palmdale.

Why does your wife need to work in LA?

Originally Posted by ryanms3030

I agree that Santa Clarita/Valencia could work. I live in Santa Clarita and commute to Burbank and it takes me 35-45 min each way on average. Depending on where you in Santa Clarita and where in LA/SFV your wife has to commute it could easily take 1-2 hours each way. If your wife worked in downtown LA or on the west side for example the commute from Palmdale could be 3 hours each way.

Commuting from Santa Clarita to Palmdale for you would probably be 45 minutes on average. Don't underestimate LA traffic and it's only getting worse. It's especially getting worse coming to and from Palmdale to LA on the 14 and will keep getting worse as the Santa Clarita is set to see a huge build out of new homes and you have to pass through that traffic to get from Palmdale to LA or SFV. The best answer as suggested was have your wife find a job in Palmdale/Lancaster or close to it. Salaries might not be as high but you also need to consider the cost of gas and wear on car. Gas is constantly around $3.50-4/gallon here and potentially driving 120 miles or more round trip every day will add up.

On another note, Valencia and some of the other communities in Santa Clarita have excellent public school systems. Palmdale has terrible schools. If you have kids that might be something to consider. There is a lot of business in Santa Clarita also and it's expanding as companies are moving there from LA and SFV now and there is also planned expansion of office and industrial parks in the next 10+ years so there will probably be more jobs moving there so your wife may be able to find a decent job there and then you would just have to deal with the commute to and from Palmdale from Santa Clarita

I’m really leaning towards the Santa Clarita area. I’ve done a little research since your post and I like what I’ve seen as far as Schools are concerned. We will be renting the first year we are there, would you recommend and aprartment complexes?

[ryanms3030]

Originally Posted by youngnavyvet

I’m really leaning towards the Santa Clarita area. I’ve done a little research since your post and I like what I’ve seen as far as Schools are concerned. We will be renting the first year we are there, would you recommend and aprartment complexes?

I don't have recommendations on apartment complexes but there are plenty of options. There are also a lot of private owned condos and houses for rent. Padmapper is a good site to look for rentals. Valencia, Saugus and Stevenson Ranch will probably be the best choices for school districts.