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Where to Live In LA – Six Hot Spots All Newcomers Should Check Out

Posted in City Guides on April 21, 2022

Los Angeles, known for its beautiful coastline, pleasant Mediterranean climate, and the glitz and glamor of Hollywood, is one of the most famous cities in the world. If you are planning on moving cross-country to this town, it is important to decide where to live in LA. With a population of almost 4 million people, LA has many great neighborhoods to offer.

Deciding Where to Live in LA Is Never an Easy Thing to Do

When moving to such a big city, you have to dedicate time to deciding where to reside before booking cross-country moving services and packing services. This is especially important when it comes to LA since some areas are not quite safe or prosperous. Whether you are moving alone or with your children, there are some general characteristics that you should look for, like safety, accessibility to essential services, and job opportunities that are staples of a good neighborhood. In this article, we will look at some of the best areas to live in Los Angeles:

  • Hollywood,
  • Culver City,
  • Echo Park,
  • Alamitos Beach,
  • Downtown,
  • Silver Lake.
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Hollywood Is Well-Known for Its Glamour, but You Can Find a Good School Here as Well

People who are moving out for the first time to LA may overlook this location since this area is primarily known for its film industry, entertainment, and extravagant lifestyle. However, Hollywood can be a great place to find a new home. The rent is surprisingly low, the average being 1,500 dollars a month. On the other hand, housing prices are quite expensive, the median being around 800,000 dollars. Nonetheless, the majority of people rent homes and you shouldn’t feel bad if you are moving from house to apartment. Great and affordable places for a living can be found here, and there are great ideas for arranging small apartments.

Hollywood has many educational facilities to offer for all levels. Emerson College, Los Angeles Film School, and Columbia College are all located on the famous Sunset Boulevard. When it comes to safety, the popular tourist routes are completely safe, and as years go by, the environment is getting better. Still, venturing too far into the outskirts of this neighborhood is not advisable, especially at night.

If you are looking for a job before you move, this neighborhood has a lot to offer. Companies like Bank of America, Netflix, SpaceX, and Amgen are all situated here. Therefore, definitely check job advertisements while looking for legitimate cross-country movers if you are moving across country without a job.

Besides Affordable Rent, This Is One of the Best Neighborhoods When It Comes to Entertainment

The famous landmarks of Hollywood are world-known. Walk of Fame, the famous sign, Universal Studios, and the Sunset Strip are some of the main tourist attractions. Over the past years, this zone has been gentrified immensely, and nowadays, there is an abundance of modern restaurants and bars. Of course, there is a high chance that you may encounter a film star while drinking coffee in one of these places.

Hollywood's famous sign
Hollywood is probably one of the most famous places in the world

Culver City Is Considered by Many to Be the Best Place to Live in Los Angeles

First of all, out of all places in Los Angeles to live, Culver City is considered the safest. Therefore, this could be the ideal place for young couples moving with a newborn. The main disadvantage is the cost of living. The median home value is 892,000 dollars, while the rent is around 1,900 per month. Still, with good management of the relocation budget and some potential downsizing for a move, a lot of money can be saved.

Culver City offers many quality schools for children and has three universities in its vicinity, Antioch University, West LA College, and UCLA. You can definitely carve a niche for yourself here as well. Beats Electronics, Disney Digital Network, and Sony Pictures Studios are some of the companies located here.

Among Many Things to Visit in Culver City, Parks Are Probably the Most Popular Places

As a resident of this beautiful area, you’ll have access to numerous parks. Culver City Park is probably the most popular one as it includes a beautiful beach. Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook is another popular spot. It is a hiking trail, and once the top is reached, you can enjoy wonderful panoramic views of LA. All in all, if you enjoy nature or are maybe moving with dogs, this is one of the best places to live in Los Angeles.

A panoramic view of LA
Beautiful nature and breathtaking views are the main characteristics of Culver City

Echo Park Has Become a Top Choice for Many Young People

As it is built around a lake, Echo Park’s environment certainly possesses that quirky feel to it. Furthermore, it’s one of the most culturally diverse areas in LA as there are a lot of Cuban immigrants here. The median house value is around 800,000 dollars, while the rent is below average and goes for around 1,500 per month.

This is one of the most popular areas for younger people as it is affordable when compared to other parts. Hence, making friends in the new town won’t be a problem here. Crime in Echo Park has been reduced significantly over the past decade, and nowadays, it is considered very safe for living. Echo Park offers good elementary schools, but there are no universities.

If You Enjoy Good Food, This Is One of the Best Places to Live in LA

There are many restaurants and gastro pubs that offer food from all over the world. But, of course, Cuban food is a thing that you don’t want to forget when you move to this part of LA. There is also a fairly big Asian community living here, and Asian cuisine is quite popular among the locals.

This part of Los Angeles is also known for its beautiful parks and recreational facilities – the most popular places are Elysian and Vista Hermosa Natural parks. Echo Park’s Recreational Complex is another popular place. As a user, you’ll have access to a vast space where you can practice all sorts of sports. Baseball and basketball are the two most popular ones, but there are also great gyms and skate parks. This part of the town is also known to be one of the hotspots for people who like indie and alternative music.

As the Name Suggests, Alamitos Beach Is the Coastal Gem

First of all, the most important fact about this neighborhood is that the home prices and rent are far below the average in LA. Apartments cost around 500,000, while the monthly rent is around 1,400 dollars. What is more, when moving to Alamitos Beach, you’ll feel as if you were moving to the suburbs.

Although it is a neighborhood that is still developing, it is considered one of the best places for families to settle as it is one of the safest in LA. There are still only a few schools within this district, but it is overall well-connected to all other parts of LA, so going to work or school shouldn’t be a problem, regardless of whether you are driving a car or using public transportation.

The Coast of Alamitos Beach Is Truly Wonderful

Certainly, one of the main reasons to move to Alamitos Beach is the fact that beautiful beaches are literally on your doorstep. The benefits of moving by the ocean are many, especially when it comes to health. This, of course, entails beautiful promenades by the ocean where you can go for a walk or ride a bike. Furthermore, Alamitos Beach is slowly but surely becoming one of the best places to experience LA’s nightlife.

Houses beside sandy beaches
This part of the town is known for its beautiful beaches

Downtown LA Is the Paradigm of Urban Living

Downtown is the main business area of Los Angeles. Therefore, if you want to get a job in the new town, this is the location where you should start your search. It is estimated that around 80 tech enterprises are located here. But, this area is also known for a lot of private businesses. What is more, Downtown is considered to be one of the safer areas of LA and offers many high-quality elementary and secondary schools.

The current home prices are below the average, around 660,000 dollars, while the rent is considered to be above average at around 1,700 dollars. It is also a bigger neighborhood with a population of around 85,000 people. All necessary services and public amenities are present, and the sight of long-distance moving companies unloading someone’s possessions is usual.

One of the Largest Skylines in the USA Can Be Seen in Downtown LA

Downtown, LA is a true symbol of the US urban lifestyle as you’ll find yourself among a number of tall skyscrapers. Being the center of LA, it is superbly connected with all other parts. Furthermore, a direct public transport line can take you to the international airport every 30 minutes.

However, tall skyscrapers are not the only thing that you can visit here. There are a lot of open spaces and parks like Grand and State Historic and Maguire Gardens. You can also visit Olvera Street, a historic district. It is a lovely pedestrian zone with many interesting antique shops and restaurants. Here is a video where you can find further information about this part of LA.

Silver Lake Is a Perfect Place for Young People

For people who search for a hip neighborhood with interesting places to visit every day, this is the right place. Unfortunately, it’s among the pricier neighborhoods. The average home price is around 930,000 dollars, so you should probably rent. The average rent is around 1,700 dollars.

Silver Lake is also considered one of the more culturally diverse neighborhoods in LA, and the population is one of the youngest. In addition, statistics show that a lot of single people live here. Therefore, if you are moving to a new state alone, this could be a nice neighborhood to move to. In addition, Silver Lake is ranked among the safest neighborhoods in LA.

This Area Is Often Called the Hippest Location in LA

Nightlife is probably the most developed in this part of the town. There are lots of nightclubs, bars, and restaurants you can visit anytime. Also, residents of this neighborhood can enjoy two street festivals, the Silver Lake Jubilee and the Sunset Junction Street Fair. The festivals are known for exceptional alternative and indie rock gigs. All in all, if you consider yourself to be a “hipster,” there will be a lot of kindred spirits in this part of the town.

LA Has Plenty to Offer to Anyone Who Chooses to Come

People often omit LA when relocating as it is generally believed that this town is expensive. True, there are quite expensive areas, but as you’ve been able to read, some even have lower rents than most other bigger cities. LA is a town where you’ll never get bored and where you can truly climb up the career ladder. Therefore, you’ll certainly not make a mistake if you tell long-distance movers to relocate your possessions to one of these neighborhoods.

Hannah Michaelson

Hannah is a freelance relocation writer from NYC that has become an expert on packing and unpacking.

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