I am planning to move to LA would like to find a relatively safe and inexpensive place to live. Suggestions?

Question

I guess what I mean is that I'm looking for the names of areas of LA that do not look like an episode of The Sheild, and is not prohibitively expensive.

Answer 1

The safety of an area in L.A. is directly proportional to the rent. You can get a great buy if you stay in Compton-- but nobody feels safe there. It's safe in Beverly Hills, but you have to pay for it.

Sorry.

Answer 2

I think you should be thinking about a few different things, and then ask a new question.

1. What's "expensive?" Think about what sort of price range you're looking for, and what you need out of an apartment.

2. Can you live with roommates? Living with roommates can get you a MUCH bigger apartment / living space for your money.

3. Where will you be working or going to school? Your commute can make a major difference in how many hours you spend on the road (potentially lost money), gas money, car depreciation, etc. LA is enormous - a 10 mile commute can easily take 45 minutes if not more. Think about where you may end up working, and then look at neighborhoods nearby. (If you're just hoping to work at a local Starbuck's or wait tables, maybe ask about nieghborhoods that have lots of bars/restaurants.)

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

If you want inexpensive, you're going to have to live in the valley. I had a place there for a while, and it was relatively inexpensive and it was near a lot of good LA things.

But if you want the real LA, try anywhere around West LA. Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Miracle Mile, Wilshire, they're all trendy and fabulous--but they cost a bit more. Silver Lake is a bit more affordable, and they've got a wonderful indie rock scene there. It's closer to downtown, but it's not a horrible area.

Answer 4

Hi Kat - one place to start is Craig's list -- http://losangeles.craigslist.org/ -- it will give you a good understanding of the cost you're up against. Like another post, the valley (studio city) is sort of the best, closest to the L.A. you might be looking for. I found a 1 bedroom for $1400 (i thought it a steal in Santa Monica) and it was by driving by areas I wanted and calling the signs in front. It took some work but I found the best deals that way. You might also buy someones membership to westsiderentals.com and go that route. It's not easy, but with perserverance you can live down here.
Good luck.

Answer 5

I hope your talking about Louisiana,because if it's Los Angeles there is no such animal. If you can find a 1 bedroom for under $1000 a month you have done something. That isn't going to be one of the better neighborhoods. Rents are extremely high,and the crime rates are as well. The upside is with a little effort,you can find relatively safe areas. Good Luck

Answer 6

According To FBI crime statistics of safest cities in the United States, the safest city in California is Irvine in Orange County followed by #6,Thousand Oaks in Ventura County, #7 Glendale, and #10 Simi Valley in Ventura County. Also in the top 25 are Mission Viejo in Orange County, and Chino Hills in San Bernardino County. All are beautiful places to live. Conversely, of the most dangerous, Compton is #4.

Unfortunately safety goes hand in hand with expensive. Most of these cities, except Glendale, are not in Los Angeles County. With the cost, and headaches of commuting you would probably want to live relatively near where you work. If safety is your main concern, these are you best choices.

Answer 7

Kat, I think one of the regulars here posted the statistics on the 10 safest metro neighborhoods like a month ago. If you go to the search box above you can find them...I think they were all expensive neighborhoods though...
If you hunt around real good you can find RELATIVELY less expensive places to live and quite a few are safe....Los Feliz, Eagle Rock, Glendale, Silver Lake etc....Good Luck, you have a hard task ahead of you...

Answer 8

Napa Wine Valley (do somewhat study on the final wine mattress and breakfast places) enormous Sur (Hwy a million halfway between SF and l. a., beutiful place to choose for a romantic getaway, examine the Ragged element motel) you may get a very good seashore view room with a hearth Pt Reyes (marin county) a brilliant number of oysters, pleasing lodges, beaches, and so forth.

Answer 9

Glendale, Sherman Oaks, Studio City

Answer 10

El Segundo - its perfect, but can be kind of pricey. Worth checking out anyway! I live there and love it! Clean, safe and tight knit. Small town mentality in a large incorporated area.