Can we survive on 100k in LA? (Orange, Santa Monica: for rent, crime rate)

[StinkyDiver]

Here’s my story: Job possibility near Beverly Hills, 100k a year….
Husband + Wife + 2 kids….. Would we be able to rent a house and survive okay on this salary, and if so, where would you suggest? Or is this just a crazy idea, and it will be a three hour one way commute every day? lol. I need to know. (I know we can't live in Beverly Hills, I am not delusional lol...) but is there anywhere decent that would be okay?
Wife plans on working in a few more years after she has her college degree, and the kids are a bit older. So in time, our income will increase.
Housing is too expensive, that I know (it is here as well, though just a hair under what you guys have to pay!), but I am wondering how much is the minimum you have to make to live (while renting in a decent area).
Is anywhere in Orange County more affordable? I know it would be too far of a commute to LA, but a job could be possible there as well.
I’m just looking for honest opinions from the natives. I am trying to decide if going to the west coast (my dream) is feasible or not. I hate the cold, and I am not fond of NYC (which is commutable from where I live)….I am looking for a change of life. I drove cross country to LA with a friend a few years back and just fell in love with southern California.
I wouldn't expect to be living high on the hog on that salary, but is it liveable for a few years until we can reach 150k + (which will happen.)

Thanks in advance for your help

[newportbeachsmostwanted]

Orange County prices are very similar to LA County. The difference is a wider range of options in family-friendly neighborhoods(excellent schools, safer neighborhoods, and lower stress). The number of upper/middle class families in OC seems to be much higher than LA.


I would not raise kids in LA County besides in Calabasas, West Hills, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, La Canada, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, or a select few other neighborhoods. (homes start at $1 million). You can find homes in South OC for 700k.

[StinkyDiver]

newportbeachsmostwanted,

I was asking about renting, not owning. I already know the price of housing in terms of buying, I am talking about just starting out there, renting. Preferrably a house, it can be modest but has to have three bedrooms.
It's very expensive here too, nothing new to me. Just a little higher priced where you are, and a whole lot nicer looking.

[Sage of Sagle]

I would say yes. People get along just fine on $60-80K a year....

if you're taking home after taxes $6000/month, and you don't HAVE to have the latest Hummer or Escalade, then you can spring $2500'ish for rent and get something decent:
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/apa/

That would put it at 42% of your take home, which is quite feasible to do in a healthy budget.

[LivingLikeAGradStudent]

Plenty of nice houses to rent within half an hour of Beverly Hills for between 2 and 3K a month. If you have a specific job offer in Orange County, that might work better with kids (especially if they are high school age).

[majoun]

Originally Posted by newportbeachsmostwanted

Orange County prices are very similar to LA County. The difference is a wider range of options in family-friendly neighborhoods(excellent schools, safer neighborhoods, and lower stress). The number of upper/middle class families in OC seems to be much higher than LA.


I would not raise kids in LA County besides in Calabasas, West Hills, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, La Canada, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, or a select few other neighborhoods. (homes start at $1 million). You can find homes in South OC for 700k.

Just a question: why would Brentwood which is in LAUSD be preferable to Santa Monica which has its own district for raising kids? IMO, anywhere within LAUSD would be undesirable for raising kids unless you have a ton of money and private school prices would be affordable.

[TheRealAngelion]

LA is very big and has many neighborhoods. There's the Valley, South Bay, LA proper, and a host of small cities around LA to choose from. The options are plentiful based on what your personal preferances are. However, if you will be working in Beverly Hills, I would try to avoid living too far from there. You really need to come out to take stock of all of the various neighborhoods to determine which one is right for you and your family. Without knowing more about you (e.g. personality, race/ethnicity, tolerance for diversity, socio/ecnomic affinity and aspirations, views on public education, tolerance for urban living, etc.) it would be hard for a group of anonymous strangers on a public forum to tell you what's best for you.

OC is out of the question if you plan to take a job in Beverly Hills. If you are looking for a more suburban existence and more laid back life, you might consider taking the job in OC and moving there. It all depends on what kind of lifestyle you want and what kind of people you want as neighbors.

[newportbeachsmostwanted]

Originally Posted by majoun

Just a question: why would Brentwood which is in LAUSD be preferable to Santa Monica which has its own district for raising kids? IMO, anywhere within LAUSD would be undesirable for raising kids unless you have a ton of money and private school prices would be affordable.

Santa Monica's homeless don't lurk in the canyons of Brentwood. San Vicente and Third St. Promenade are NO COMPARISON. Brentwood's crime rate is only 1/4ths of Santa Monica's. Brentwood is very family friendly. It is the most family friendly area in LA(after Pacific Palisades).


And about LAUSD, Brentwood families send their kids to a private school, and the tuition is not a deal-breaker when your earning $150k annually(the median household income for a Brentwood family).

[majoun]

Originally Posted by newportbeachsmostwanted

Santa Monica's homeless don't lurk in the canyons of Brentwood. San Vicente and Third St. Promenade are NO COMPARISON. Brentwood's crime rate is only 1/4ths of Santa Monica's. Brentwood is very family friendly. It is the most family friendly area in LA(after Pacific Palisades).

The homeless do lurk in the canyons of the Palisades, though, more than a lot of people would think. SM's crime rate is pretty heavily concentrated in about 20% of the city's total area. (the area between the 10 and Pico)

Brentwood is a nice area but no more so than SM. The parts of SM next to Brentwood are indistinguishable.

[majoun]

If one can afford to bypass LAUSD, then there are quite a few attractive neighborhoods for a family in LA - in that case Los Feliz would be an option, not to mention about 75-80% of the west side, Hancock Park, parts of Silver Lake, and certain Valley neighborhoods like Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Toluca Lake, Valley Village, and Encino.

Without LAUSD, LA would be a much better place.