Los Angeles neighborhoods?

Question

Ok, so I am planning on moving to Los Angeles sometime soon and am looking for a nice area to live that is not way too expensive. I don't mind paying $1200 for a one bedroom apartment as long as it's in a relatively safe neighborhood. I have heard that the southern suburbs are nice and that the western neighborhoods are okay. Which ones are the safest but also relatively close to cultural venues and other cool places LA is renowned for? Also, I've heard the San Fernando Valley is nice, but I've also read it's the heart of the porn industry...is it odd living next door to people shooting porn films...seems to me like it would be a bit uncomfortable. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

First off there are no... I mean no Cheap nice areas in LA… I have a Buddy that lives in North Hollywood he pays $1200 for a 2 bedroom but the apartment is rent controlled… a 1 bedroom in the same complex is now going for $1150. I live close to Downtown LA not to far from cultural/sports/music and club venues in a one bedroom on the sixth floor near McAurthur Park Area… it supposed to be a rough neighborhood lived here about 5 months no problems but I pay $1200, My sister in law lives in a 1 bedroom in heart East LA and she pays $900 but she also lived in a city called Bell in South East LA in a Single and payed $925… And there no way in hell you can find a decent sized 1 Bedroom in West Hollywood for under 1300 trust me I looked. My brother lived in Westwood 4 years ago and he used to pay $1400 for a 2 bedroom I’m sure it would be more now. My Boyfriend lived in Long Beach in a tiny single a block from the beach his rent used to be $875… So it’s pretty much up to you how much up to you and how much you are willing to pay and how much luck you have because you can find some deals out there but you do have to look for them. Tip just drive around the Neighborhood you wish to live in and look for rent signs that’s the best way to find a good deal because you wont find them in the papers or sites. Goodluck.

Answer 2

I live in Burbank and I can recommend it, smallish, generally safe, plenty of shopping, theaters, etc.

Sure, the valley is porn capital, I've lived in the valley for a hundred years, and I've never seen anything, unfortunately. Film companies have to inform the neighbors when they are shooting, so you'd be forward if that ever happened.

Rule of thumb, you can get a pretty good idea of the neighbor just by looking at it--graffiti and bars on the windows are a bad sign.

You'd be better off worring about the traffic, which is horrendous. Try to limit your commute time as much as possible.

People say angelenos aren't friendly, we're not really. We just to keep to ourselves. This is a working town, we're not much into nightlife, there's no professional football team, and once you've experience August you'll wonder why you ever moved here in the first place. Just remember, 120 in the shade is the price we pay for not having snow.

Answer 3

Westside neighborhoods (like Beverly Hills, Bel-Air, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Westwood, Brentwood, etc. are VERY expensive...average home in Malibu for example is $2.5 million).

OK, well the San Fernando Valley is perfectly fine.
It depends on which neighborhood in the Valley you're talking about.
Encino, Sherman Oaks, Woodland Hills---those are the good residential neighborhoods.

The porn industry is in ghetto-ish areas like Reseda and Van Nuys. Those areas are more commercialized and less residential.

Answer 4

The San Fernando Valley is MUCH nicer than the L.A. Basin. You would never be aware of the porn being shot, because it's usually done on shooting stages or in VERY expensive homes. In the Valley, a very nice area is Glendale or Burbank. Both are pleasant bedroom communities within easy reach of Downtown L.A.
The Basin is almost impossible to travel around in, and is noisier than The Valley, with more air pollution, but if you want to be closer to Downtown, Eagle Rock is a nice area.
If you want to be a bit farther out, in a more rustic setting along the mountains, Sunland or Tujunga (pronounced Tuh-hung-guh) is a lovely area.
Be prepared, though: gangs are everywhere in L.A. They usually won't bother you, but if anyone says that one area or another has no gangs, they must be thinking Beverly Hills, Brentwood, or the beach communities along PCH, which you couldn't afford.
Welcome to L.A.!

Answer 5

Ugh, the San Fernando Valley? If you want to live there, I'd recommend Sherman Oaks or Encino. It gets royally hot in the summer (105 is not uncommon).
I'd actually prefer the Westside; Santa Monica, West LA or Venice. The climate is more moderate and there is far less smog. There is a lot to do, too. Venice is not as safe as Santa Monica; it is under-patrolled by the LAPD. Santa Monica has its own fire and police departments, so response time is quicker. It's kind of hard finding an apartment, but once you move in, it will fall under rent control. There are more apartments available now than before the dot com crash.

Answer 6

Please consider the San Gabriel Valley, NE of LA. I grew up in Pasadena- a little pricey, but you might check out rentals in the border towns of Eagle Rock, South Pas or Alhambra.
My sister is currently renting a 2br apt in a decent area of Eagle Rock for about $900/mo. Eagle Rock is an area undergoing regentrification. Smaller town feel, cool architecture, lots of shopping and excellent freeway access. 10 minutes to downtown, much less weirdness than you will find in West LA/San Fernando areas. Good luck!

Answer 7

First of all I lived in Chatsworth for many years answas dumbfounded to discover that Chatworth was the porn capital of the world. Chatsworth is a nice afordable neighborhood. You can find a nice apartment within your price range.
Check out West San Fernando Valley, Woodland Hills, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Malibu hills.

Glendale and Burbank are nice.

Answer 8

Hola,

$1200 will get you a nice 1 bedroom in West Hollywood, West Los Angeles or Venice. (All western neighborhoods).

The Valley sucks.

Answer 9

Glendale and Burbank are the best for your budget. Also you may want to try Pasadena if they have vacancies. I used to live in all three cities. The outskirt cities of LA are better than in LA itself, it gets crowded.