Area of Pasadena around Cal Tech (Orange, Fair Oaks: apartment, rental, crime)

[Jennibc]

How safe is the part of Pasadena just east of Cal Tech. We are planning on staying in that area for about a week and I want to know what to expect. Thanks!

[radiolibre99]

To add to this how affordable are places around Pasadena? What are the cheaper areas and how much? Are they safe?

Sorry to add to the questions Jenn but it saves me the trouble of typing up a new thread.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

How safe is the part of Pasadena just east of Cal Tech. We are planning on staying in that area for about a week and I want to know what to expect.

Very safe. And there's lots to do in that area.

[drunk on kool aid]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

How safe is the part of Pasadena just east of Cal Tech. We are planning on staying in that area for about a week and I want to know what to expect. Thanks!

The area immediately east of Caltech (east of Hill and between Del Mar to the north and California to the south) is a very nice, quiet residential area. South of California is going to be either a very wealthy part of Pasadena or the city of San Marino. I'm not basing this on actual crime stats so have a couple grains of salt handy. Further east gets less wealthy but I wouldn't feel unsafe in the area. Your comfort level is going to depend heavily on what you are used to.

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

To add to this how affordable are places around Pasadena? What are the cheaper areas and how much? Are they safe?

Sorry to add to the questions Jenn but it saves me the trouble of typing up a new thread.

You should comb through past posts and check the usual rental listings but Pasadena has a wide range of affordability. I'd imagine the cheapest areas are the parts with the worst reputation which are generally in the vicinity of the northern parts of Fair Oaks and Lincoln. I don't subscribe to the often quoted statement that north of the 210 is dangerous or the absolutely ludicrous notion to stay away from the area west of Lake Ave.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by drunk on kool aid

I don't subscribe to... the absolutely ludicrous notion to stay away from the area west of Lake Ave.

You mean west of Arroyo Parkway. From Lake to Arroyo is actually very desirable, especially north of California Blvd (few apartment buildings south of there, anyway) and south of Del Mar.

[ccm123]

It is safe. I lived and worked in the area for several years and it is safe. If you go further north and northwest (towards the Rose Bowl and hills), it can get a bit sketchy.

[HyperionGap]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

You mean west of Arroyo Parkway. From Lake to Arroyo is actually very desirable, especially north of California Blvd (few apartment buildings south of there, anyway) and south of Del Mar.

He's referring to north of the 210.

[TimTheEnchanter]

I wouldn't say north of the 210 is "dangerous", but there is more crime in the area just north of the 210 up to about Washington Blvd.

[True Freedom]

Originally Posted by drunk on kool aid

.. I don't subscribe to the often quoted statement that north of the 210 is dangerous or the absolutely ludicrous notion to stay away from the area west of Lake Ave.

Put on black-face, and a bright red shirt/hat at night, and start walking up Summit Ave from just above Orange Grove ... and write back if you make it to Woodbury.

[dvduval]

Statistically it should be safer than Austin, TX

Insofar as finding affordable places (2nd poster), I highly recommend setting aside a couple of days to drive around and call numbers on signs posted in front of buildings. Many of these are not advertised any other way and there are some good values. That said, much depends on your budget. I would expect a 2 bedroom would be $1600 on the low end, but still in a nice area. $1900 is probably more the average.