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2018 Best Suburbs to Live in the Los Angeles AreaAbout this List

Explore the best suburbs to live in the U.S. based on crime, public schools, cost of living, job opportunities, and local amenities. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, and other sources. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

1 – 25 of 221
Best Places to Live
221 results

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  1. Santa Monica

    • Town in California
    • 81
    1 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Works Here: I've lived and/or worked in Santa Monica for over 12 years. In addition to it's gorgeous weather and beaches, Santa Monica is both family & pedestrian friendly, as well as a vacation destination and hot spot for evening events. Although Santa Monica has faced years of traffic congestion due to its popularity, however the City continues to strive to be environmentally conscious through offering fantastic public transportation--the new metrorail, (hulu) bike rental kiosks, becoming anti-smoking, and banning plastic bags. From healthy fast casual restaurants offering vegan cuisine, bistros and fresh sushi to high end restaurants...Santa Monica offers it all!
    Read 81 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 92,495 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  2. Manhattan Beach

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 74
    2 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: Manhattan Beach is paradise! Minus the vagrants and robberies....
    Great restaurants, great neighbors, great parks, convenient location, parking is not terrible but not great, community is stellar, family friendly, beautiful strand and conducive to healthy living.
    Read 74 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 35,698 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  3. Irvine

    • City in California
    • 278
    3 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: Irvine is probably one of the safest, cleanest, and greenest cities in CA (if not, in the US)! It is located in Orange County, so it's really easy to go up to LA area or drive down to San Diego. Irvine is home to a lot of high-ranking schools like the University of California Irvine (UCI), Concordia University, Irvine Valley College, the Orange County Center of the University of Southern California (USC), and campuses of California State University Fullerton (CSUF), University of La Verne, and Pepperdine University. This city is really beautiful with streets dotted with flowers and trees. It is very quiet and all neighborhoods are well-maintained. There's a lot of opportunities for outdoor activities.
    Read 278 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 256,877 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  5. South Pasadena

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 76
    4 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: What I like about South Pasadena is the convenience. For a small town, this place offers nearby schools, grocery stores, and public transportation. I also like the safety that this town provides for families with or without kids. I give South Pasadena a 4-star overall rating due to the living cost or rent. It is, however, expected to be high and increasing from time to time due to the convenience of getting from one place to another via walking or public transportation and the good schools. I believe South Pasadena does deserve at least 4 stars because it has and still allows me to attend the community college I go to East Los Angeles College for school via. This town is pretty safe as well that at least I can just go out either for a walk or to transport to places with convenience and not feel like I'm putting myself in dangerous situations.
    Read 76 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 25,974 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  6. Hermosa Beach

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 44
    5 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Former Resident: Hermosa Beach is a beautiful small town with a rich history in visual and performing arts and a great, close-knit aesthetic. The single-square mile area is a great contrast in attitudes to the surrounding cities, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach, by representing a generally relaxed, easy-going beach lifestyle as historically associated with the South Bay.
    Read 44 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 19,750 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  7. La Cañada Flintridge

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 76
    6 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: Not too much happens in La Cañada Flintridge and it is a very peaceful town. What makes it special is the safety and friendliness of the community, the school in the area, and the convenient location. Little to no crimes occur in la Cañada, and the ones that happen are small and rare burglaries. The community funded school in the area is La Cañada high, a public school in the top 150 public schools in America. The town also contains Saint Francis and Flintridge Prep, two great private schools. La Cañada is extremely close to Pasadena and Glendale, meaning fun activities and good quality places are only a few minutes away! Overall, La Cañana Flintridge is not only my city, but my home.
    Read 76 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 20,474 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  10. Redondo Beach

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 144
    7 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: I really love my community and my city. However, it is not perfect. The biggest problem to me is the homeless people. There are two churches where many homeless people and drug addicts flock to, and they can cause disturbances. One other thing I would change is the pier. I feel as though it is the reason the nightlife is worse than that of Hermosa Beach or Manhattan. However, the Riviera is always super fun to visit at night. Overall, though, I love my city!
    Read 144 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 67,950 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  11. Palos Verdes Estates

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 26
    8 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Nearby Resident: It's hard to rate this one, on one hand, it is stunning beautifully situated scenic area, ocean views cliffs, the list goes on. A fantastic school district I think its one of the best in the country. But then town itself, almost no restaurants, zero nightlife, one road to get in and get out, traffic like hell because of that. No access to the beach. Older established successful crowd. Very private.

    This is a very place for someone who made it big, doesn't need to go to work anymore, or they run their successful business from their home. Speaking of homes. Amazing. Big (OLD) money town. Properties with land! That should give you a clue. Beautiful but isolated.
    Read 26 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 13,591 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  12. Newport Beach

    • Town in California
    • 39
    9 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: It's a beautiful place to live with a lot to offer. There is beautiful beaches every where you turn and amazing restaurants. The only thing missing is the nightlife, there will be random cool events that happen sporadicly but something permanent would be great. I would also love to see the addition of museums or even just fun things to do on the weekend with your family!
    Read 39 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 86,793 Population
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  14. San Marino

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 37
    10 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: I would like to see more businesses/restaurants enter San Marino. We do not offer a wide range of restaurant choices as of now, and are lacking especially in Mexican and Asian foods. Furthermore, although we do not have much of a night life, there are many cities nearby that offer a wide range of options, so it is nice to be in the middle of everything. This city is relatively safe, and has a great public education program, so it is a wonderful place to raise kids (if you can afford to live here - the real estate is very expensive).
    Read 37 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 13,331 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  15. Beverly Hills

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 64
    11 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: I've lived in Beverly Hills for about 6 months now. I attend Beverly Hills High School, which is an excellent public school with friendly staff, accomplished teachers, and an abundant amount of opportunities. Also, the general energy of Beverly Hills promotes a healthy lifestyle. There are plenty of restaurants with fresh ingredients, and almost everything is within walking distance.
    However, to live in a place with such history and reputation comes with it's setbacks. The commute time to places that are just 2 miles away may be anywhere from 5 minutes to 45 minutes, depending on the time of day. It is not a very safe place either. My apartment building had a robbery about a month back, and it's very common for people to sneak in and steal items from the parking garage. Other than these flaws, Beverly Hills is a great place to live.
    Read 64 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 34,506 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  16. Aliso Viejo

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 94
    12 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: My family (wife, 6/8yr old boys) were looking to escape the reclusive Chicago lifestyle and start fresh in SoCal. Knowing ONLY the names of all the suburbs that are most visible in entertainment media(Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, etc), we were pleasantly surprised to see that Aliso must have been spared the reality TV advertising because it was a hidden gem that seemed to have been overlooked (thankfully). We bought in Glenwood (surrounding the Aliso Country Club). Greeted with a block of outgoing neighbors with elem/middle sch children, the Country Club social membership (included with your assoc. dues) gives ample opportunity for transplants to assimilate into friends/other families. The pools are always jumping and the golf course is great for friends/family that come into town. the community always has pre-planned events for the Glenwood residents. Trail biking! People are just starting to discover this amazing suburb. Glad we already here :)
    Read 94 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 50,691 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  19. Rolling Hills

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 2
    13 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Niche User: It is an excellent gated equestrian community to raise a family.
    Read 2 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 1,684 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  20. Culver City

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 119
    14 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: Culver City is a sweet Westside community. It has a mix of single-family houses and larger condo/apartment complexes, but housing prices are skyrocketing across the board. New developments may ease that, but many are luxury buildings without substantial affordable units. They also won't ease traffic congestion, which is an issue throughout LA. Luckily, the Expo Line runs through Culver City, terminating at Santa Monica in the west and Downtown LA in the east. There are also local municipal bus lines, in addition to LA metro lines, and a move to be more bike-friendly. The city prides itself on its historic association with the Film industry, and it continues to highlight Entertainment careers as a major draw. It's also big on Tech, with the new Playa Vista developments next door and major media organizations moving in. But it still manages to have a sense of artsy funkiness and small-town charm, despite the ongoing growth and proliferation of major chains. I hope it stays weird!
    Read 119 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 39,432 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  21. Rancho Palos Verdes

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 81
    15 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Former Resident: RPV is a great place to rise your kids! It a great community with beautifully well kept parks and there’s always community events throughout the year. The schools, teachers, and school community are incredible! Everyone is warm & welcoming. We are moving because it’s too expensive to live here - wish we could stay and rise our children here.
    Read 81 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 42,463 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  22. Seal Beach

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 38
    16 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: Seal Beach is a small, quaint city on the border of Orange County and Los Angeles, and it is my absolute favorite place to live thus far! The people here are incredibly friendly and inviting, the Main Street restaurants and shops are local and crime is almost non-existent. There are several delicious restaurants to try on Main Street Seal Beach as well as off of Pacific Coast Highway. I always feel so welcomed and happy no matter where I step foot in this city. In addition, there are many families that live here, which makes it a wonderful place to raise kids. I would like to see more community events throughout the year. I think that adding more events in Seal Beach would bring us all closer together. Other than that, this city should be more on the map! It's been life changing living here, and I cannot wait to see how Seal Beach grows!
    Read 38 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 24,510 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  23. Claremont

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 103
    17 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: Claremont is a very nice area to live in. As a college student I fell very safe. It is a great location for attending either of the surrounding colleges nearby due to the fast commute. The town has a nice atmosphere to it, and it is very cute. There are plenty of great shopping centers to go to. I live in a very convent location to two Starbucks, Target and animal hospitals. There are plenty of great restaurants to eat at too! The atmosphere of the town is very peaceful and quiet. The people are very friendly and neighborly. Out of all the towns in the surrounding area, Claremont is the best one I have lived in since moving to the county in 2014.
    Read 103 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 35,949 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  26. Rolling Hills Estates

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 20
    18 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: Rolling Hills Estates is truly a great spot to raise a family. With so many great parks, hiking trails and amazing restaurants. Being a senior in high school, I can personally say us kids receive a great education. Everybody is always greeting each other and helping out one another. The volunteer service is top notch and help wanted signs are not out to regularly but down the hill in nearby Redondo Beach or Torrance, you can easily find a job. The number 3 biggest mall in America is just 7 miles from the hill and has so many amazing shops and restaurants. Rolling Hills Estates is truly an amazing place.
    Read 20 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 8,229 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  27. Ladera Ranch

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 44
    19 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: Fantastic place to raise a family. Literally the best environment for a young child. Community water park, a huge assortment of clean well maintained safe parks throughout the community, several amazing clubhouses with pools, family bike trails, mountain bike trails, walking trails, many kids still playing together outside, family events running year round, concerts/movies in the park and friendly neighbors. Very safe expect for the usual petty crime “stuff”. There are all your standard local convieniences Grocery, Starbucks, cvs and your average chain store selection. The downside is not much in the way of variety for quality dining or interesting shops just your typical suburban “stuff”.
    Read 44 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 28,769 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  28. Arcadia

    • Town in California
    • 189
    20 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: The neighborhoods are quiet and safe and the people are nice. Nearby there are many events and things to do. We have a large mall next to a racetrack with seasonal races. The mall has a Dave & Busters, a move theater, a gym and well known and delicious restaurants such as CPK and Woodranch. There are a variety of shops for all ages and interests. The food court also has a variety of foods such as asian, pipster, mexican, mongolian, japanese, italian, america, and much more! And things are constantly changing so there are always new restaurants popping up. Dessert is also abundant here from pop bar to sweet factory to boba! The mall is definitely a main attraction but outside of that, we have an arboretum, many more restaurants on Baldwin Ave. and the Huntington Library is just around the corner. Location is great and its nearby many things to do so you never get bored!
    Read 189 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 58,156 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  29. Rossmoor

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 10
    21 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: Small community, public parks, good schools. Right next to shops and restaraunts. Beach is nearby, everyone is friendly.
    Read 10 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 10,920 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  30. Laguna Beach

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 25
    22 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: Laguna Beach is where I was blessed to be born & raised! Being an outdoorsman, Laguna Beach was perfect because it lends Itself to canyon hikes, surfing, tennis, & beach volleyball. It's also known for its art culture like Pageant of the Masters, Sawdust Festival, art galleries, Museums & Theatres.Though it possesses charm & character, Laguna is a bit of a " bubble." The average home price is $1.5M, kids drive exotic cars to school, have easy access to drugs/alcohol & the sense of entitlement runs rampant. It's a culture shock to people who visit from other areas! This is what I'd change about Laguna Beach. Laguna's youth are living with "checked out parents" that are trying to be their friends rather than parents. As a young man who was raised by a single mom,this was not my reality. My goal was to find a place where I could still enjoy the outdoors & experience diverse cultures yet get away from so much of the "Orange County Stigma."
    Read 25 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 23,224 Population
    View Nearby Homes
  31. Review Your Area

  32. Westlake Village

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 23
    23 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: ENTERTAINMENT, DINING, SOCIAL SCENE IS GREAT IN WESTLAKE VILLAGE. THE COMMUNITY IS SAFE; HOWEVER THE AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING IS ON THE HIGHER END.
    Read 23 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 8,450 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  33. Torrance

    • City in California
    • 186
    24 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: I love Torrance because of it's cool coastal weather. It's a couple of miles away from the beach and the weather's always great! In addition, there are so many places to shop and eat around here that you don't need to go far for hardly anything. It's close to some of the most popular beaches of southern California like Redondo, Hermosa and Manhattan Beach. They're all beautiful and clean.
    Read 186 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 147,190 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  34. Oak Park

    • Suburb of Los Angeles, CA
    • 51
    25 Best Suburbs to Live in Los Angeles Area

    Current Resident: Oak Park is the perfect place to raise a family. It is an extremely safe, well-rounded environment with fantastic public schools. The high school is very well respected as a public school, and students often go on to very good colleges that are very selective. The real estate prices reflect what a sought-after district this is to live in, and how much people will pay to raise their kids here. Oak Park is small, and relatively far from the city, but has things to do and perfect activities for families of all ages. It is a scenic, extremely clean, and safe environment. With hiking trails and parks abundant, it is a dream for an outdoor runner or biker. You drive around Oak Park and see kids safely walking alone with their friends, and many people walking dogs in the early morning.
    Read 51 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 14,440 Population
    View Nearby Homes
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