Moving from Toronto, Canada to Los Angeles! (Glendale, Irvine: low income, to rent)

[pank24]

Hello,


We will be moving to Los Angeles from Toronto in summers. My wife's work gave us the opportunity and we decided to give it a shot. We have 2 kids (10yr and 6yrs old).



Currently, work location is not that important as it will be WFH. Once things open up, we can choose the office location either between Santa Monica or in Orange County (close to Irvine). We both work in IT.

Our single most priority is very good schools, safe neighborhood with young families.


Santa Monica and the surrounding areas are too expensive to start with.

We are looking to rent for around $3500 but can go to $5000 if required.

I was looking a little east at Burbank, Glendale, South Pasadena and La Canada.
Was leaning more towards La Canada, seems the schools are pretty good there.


As for Irvine, its a good area and the schools are good but with very less diversity. Please correct me if thats not the case.



Here are few of my thoughts, any help to better understand the area and decide will be greatly appreciated.


Also, if anyone can suggest any good school rating site? Although its relative, but its a start to look for schools. I've also started reading about charter schools, although I'm not sure whats the general perceptions are about them?

[Mossa]

Go for Irvine. Or look at other parts of Orange County. Much cleaner, safer, greener. Schools are better.

[pank24]

Thats what I thought Irvine as well. The only thing I not sure of is diversity, its seems heavily Asians there. Not against anyone but here in Toronto its quite multi-cultural and wanted to go in the similar environment. I could be totally wrong though.

[Mossa]

Originally Posted by pank24

Thats what I thought Irvine as well. The only thing I not sure of is diversity, its seems heavily Asians there. Not against anyone but here in Toronto its quite multi-cultural and wanted to go in the similar environment. I could be totally wrong though.

Yes, Irvine is heavily Asian. But, first of all I don’t see it as a problem, and second, it’s not like you would be in some sort of enclosed monocultural community. There are Caucasians, Indians, Persians, Hispanics, etc. The entire South Orange County is very nice and pretty diverse. Some nationalities are more prevalent in certain areas. But it’s not like enclosed ethnic enclaves, and it’s pretty easy to get around. With young children, I’d especially pick South Orange County over LA. Much more family friendly atmosphere, more green spaces, parks, etc. Fewer big city problems, like homelessness, addiction, etc.

[saybanana]

Try niche. com . It does yearly rankings ratings of best school districts and schools.
I've looked over the LA and OC school districts. There are many good school districts to choose from. The more affluent, higher or more expensive an area often equates to good school districts. Though it is not always the case for different reasons. I think Pasadena city is a good example I hear. It is a nice mix of middle and upper class residents and also working class. But the school district is mediocre because the population of middle and up dont have many kids or none and likely to send them to private schools than the public school district. So the students in public are often more the working class backgrounds thus why it is more mediocre. This affects future families who desire better schools to seek elsewhere like South Pasadena, LA Canada, Arcadia or San marino cities attracts more families than childless or retirees. But these are residential suburbs cities than Pasadena which has major offices, industries along.
Burbank and Glendale cities are similar to Pasadena with tier income, but many send their kids to public than private thus their districts tend to be better rated.
Santa Monica Malibu school district has been quite popular and expensive for decades, thus working class family people have been pushed out. And thus families that can afford to live there find other students with families who share similar educational interests. Many coastal areas like Manhattan Beach city to Palos Verdes are similar. Affluent, educated family types.
Los angeles city being the big dense city lost these middle class and up families to these smaller independent cities. So the student population tends to be immigrant children or low income and education families. Richer families send kids to private school like kids from bel air. Or some are charter schools in nicer areas. Currently things are changing in LA with citywide gentrification as immisnd low income are slowly pushed out while young educated mostly childless people move in. Schools won't change overnight.
Niche com is one good site that and greatschool site, too. I think one site does breakdown things more like demographics, but not sure

[saibot]

Originally Posted by Mossa

Yes, Irvine is heavily Asian. But, first of all I don’t see it as a problem, and second, it’s not like you would be in some sort of enclosed monocultural community. There are Caucasians, Indians, Persians, Hispanics, etc. The entire South Orange County is very nice and pretty diverse. Some nationalities are more prevalent in certain areas. But it’s not like enclosed ethnic enclaves, and it’s pretty easy to get around. With young children, I’d especially pick South Orange County over LA. Much more family friendly atmosphere, more green spaces, parks, etc. Fewer big city problems, like homelessness, addiction, etc.

I agree with all of this (I live in South OC, but grew up closer to LA, so I'm very familiar with both).

OP, am I correct in assuming that you are also an immigrant? You will find people from all over in the Irvine area, and it is a very family-friendly area. Some people feel the Irvine schools are almost too competitive and achievement-focused, but they do turn out very good results.

[pank24]

Correct I am an immigrant as well. Sure I'll explore Irvine. Wanted to know how is LA Canada for families? Is it similar to Irvine?

[KemBro71]

Originally Posted by pank24

Correct I am an immigrant as well. Sure I'll explore Irvine. Wanted to know how is LA Canada for families? Is it similar to Irvine?

La Canada is great, but if you had to commute (eventually) to Santa Monica regularly you're going to REALLY hate life.

[Racer46]

Originally Posted by KemBro71

La Canada is great, but if you had to commute (eventually) to Santa Monica regularly you're going to REALLY hate life.

Commuting from Irvine would be extremely bad to.

[saibot]

Originally Posted by Racer46

Commuting from Irvine would be extremely bad too.

Oh, absolutely, but OP said there is an office in or near Irvine.