While the Los Angeles housing market is higher than average, L.A. still makes an incredible place to call home. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a single individual or a parent seeking to move with kids—there’s something for all types of people here in the City of Angels.  

Anyhow, with the beaches, history, culture, and thriving entertainment scene, moving to Los Angeles seems like a simple choice if you ask us. 

Below, we’ll share a few examples of the best suburbs in Los Angeles to help with your search for the perfect place to live. As always, if you need a Los Angeles mover to assist, Bellhop has your back!

The best suburbs in Los Angeles

The City of Angels has numerous suburbs that would make a great place to live, whether you have kids or are building a career. Los Angeles is a place of beauty, diversity, and outdoor adventures. And the weather? Well, you can’t beat it! 

If you’re curious about where to move to, here’s an inside look at the best suburbs in Los Angeles. 

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Best suburbs of Los Angeles for families

The City of Angels has numerous suburbs that would make a great place to live, whether you have kids or are building a career. Los Angeles is a place of beauty, diversity, and outdoor adventures. And the weather? You can’t beat it! 

If you’re curious about where to move to, here’s an inside look at the best suburbs in Los Angeles.

La Cañada Flintridge

What’s first on our list of the best places to live in Los Angeles County? Allow us to introduce you to La Cañada Flintridge, a popular L.A. suburb situated at the bottom of the Verdugo Mountains. It’s to the west of the San Gabriel Valley and situated comfortably in the Crescenta Valley, giving it a laid-back and rural atmosphere that many families can appreciate.

La Cañada Flintridge has been called “#1 in best suburbs to raise a family in California,” scoring highly in virtually all areas, from general family-friendliness and diversity to nightlife. (Moms and dads deserve a night off every so often!)

How about the schools? Well, you’ll be happy to know that La Cañada Flintridge’s public school system has been rated an A+, giving you peace of mind about your kids’ education. Your kids will have the option of going to La Cañada Elementary School, Paradise Canyon Elementary School, Rosemont Middle School, Crestview Preparatory School, La Cañada High School, and Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy–to name a few places.

In your off-time, your family can check out the city’s many attractions, which include Descanso Gardens, Mount Wilson Observatory, Cherry Canyon Park, Mt. Waterman Ski Resort, and more. Restaurant-wise, you have Cafe Sole, Magpie’s Grill, Blaze Pizza, Honeybird, Taylor’s Steak House, and Sakana Sushi & Grill. 

The average home value in the neighborhood is $2,245,337 in December 2023, while the average rent is $2850 for a 1-bedroom.

South Pasadena

While we’re talking about the top suburbs in L.A. for families, we have to add South Pasadena (AKA the “City of Trees”) to the list. It’s a quaint city that’s just a short drive to Downtown L.A. (six miles, to be exact), making it easy to commute to the heart of Los Angeles if you need to for work or fun. (Let’s be honest. Los Angeles has the best of both worlds!)

One person says, “South Pasadena is your picture perfect suburb in the movies. It’s quiet, it’s cute and it’s safe. It’s super close to Old Town Pasadena and about a 15-20 minute drive to DTLA. If I ever move back to LA, I would definitely want to raise my kids in South Pas.

If you do choose to move to South Pasadena, you’ve got plenty of schools to send your kids to, and like La Cañada Flintridge, the city is acclaimed for its academic ratings. Some of the best schools in South Pasadena include Marengo Elementary School, Monterey Hills Elementary School, South Pasadena Middle School, Wilson Middle School, South Pasadena High School, and Blair High School. 

But life is about more than just school. (Are we right, or are we right?) In your downtime, you can take the kids to the Fremont Centre Theatre, Arroyo Seco Golf Course, or the South Pasadena Farmers’ Market. 

You’ll find the median rent at about $2500, while the average home value is $1,625,665 as of December 2023.

Manhattan Beach

This beautiful suburb is to the southwest of L.A., situated right along the coastline (hello, Manhattan Beach). Many say the city has a generally relaxed atmosphere and is well-suited for people who like to spend time outside. (If you’re a surfer, it’s even better!)

While Manhattan Beach isn’t one of the most affordable suburbs of Los Angeles, it is one of the best-all-around places for kids. (It was even voted an A for public schools, family-friendliness, and nightlife.)

Manhattan Beach has Pacific Elementary School, Pennekamp Elementary School, Manhattan Beach Middle School, Futures Academy – Manhattan Beach, Mira Costa High School, and Vistamar School, among others. 

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If you’re a foodie, you’ll love the restaurant scene in Manhattan Beach. The city has cuisine from all around the world. We suggest stopping by Rock’N Fish Restaurant, Manhattan Beach Post, Love & Salt, Petros Restaurant, or The Arthur J for a meal you won’t forget. 

Also, if you’re looking for something else to do over the weekend, check out the Roundhouse Marine Studies Lab and Aquarium, Sand Dune Park, Manhattan Beach Art Center, or AdventurePlex. Manhattan Beach has endless activities for families.

Best Los Angeles suburbs for young professionals and singles 

If you’re wondering where young professionals should live in Los Angeles, look no further. Los Angeles has many great suburbs for rising young professionals and singles, and we have done our due diligence to find out where you would enjoy living the most. 

Here are two highly rated Los Angeles suburbs that we would call the best places to live in Los Angeles for singles and young professionals like yourself: 

West Hollywood

You might say that West Hollywood (AKA WeHo) is the heart and soul of L.A. This city (known for being one of the upper-middle-class neighborhoods in Los Angeles) is in the middle of the Hollywood Hills, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Beverly Grove, and Fairfax. Due to its central location, you can live in peace and quiet but still be in close proximity to L.A.’s most luxurious amenities and top attractions. 

WeHo has a trendy and fun vibe with the right amount of edge, making it the perfect place to meet people. (The city also has an incredible nightlife, with many bars and restaurants, including The Roger Room, Hi Tops, Tower Bar, and The Surly Goat. Don’t forget to charge your phone so that you can take a selfie if you see a celebrity!)

One person says, “Because [West Hollywood is] far away from any freeway infrastructure, it’s one of the few very walkable parts of LA, which I think is really cool. Ton of cool stores, restaurants, bars along Santa Monica Blvd, Melrose, Beverly, Fairfax, La Cienega, and many more.

So, make sure you get a reliable vehicle when you move to West Hollywood, and you’re sure to love it here. Locals’ favorite places to visit are the Sunset Strip (of course), Sunset Plaza, Melrose Avenue, Sundance Cinema – West Hollywood, Screenbid, and The 11:11. Essentially, if you like your schedule being full on the weekends, and you want to be in the Hollywood Scene, West Hollywood is the place to be. 

The median rent in West Hollywood is $3,995, while the average home value sits at $1,044,804.

Santa Monica

The city of Santa Monica is an exceptional place for young professionals in Los Angeles. Why? One word: beaches! Santa Monica has a relaxed, down-to-earth atmosphere being right on the beach, but it’s close enough to Downtown L.A. to keep all of the amenities you need nearby.

There are also many major companies in Santa Monica, including but not limited to Headspace, GoodRx, Tradesy, and TaskUs. Basically, if you want a good job, you can either work in Santa Monica or commute to another part of L.A. It’s not far. In fact, Santa Monica is just 15 miles from Downtown.

And if you want to meet people, there are plenty of places to do that. Santa Monica has the Santa Monica State Beach, Santa Monica Pier, Pacific Park, Santa Monica Farmers Market, and Heal the Bay Aquarium. Also, our fellow shopping addicts can look forward to Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place. Trust us. 

Oh, and the food? Well, anyone who lives in Santa Monica can probably agree that the food is absolutely delicious. There’s the Water Grill, Tar & Roses, Massilia, Hillstone, 1212 Santa Monica, North Italia, Meat On Ocean, and The Lobster–to name a few. (We hope you love seafood!)

The average home value as of December 2023 is $1,673,887, and the median rents stands at $4,400.

Need a hand moving to Los Angeles?

Bellhop is here for you. Now that you know what suburbs are considered the best suburbs in Los Angeles, we hope that helps a little with your search for a place to move to in California. When you’re ready to make your local LA move or long-distance move to Los Angeles, Bellhop is just a phone call away. 

Need a last-minute Los Angeles move?  We can help!

Other Guides to Los Angeles

Best Up & Coming Neighborhoods in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Moving Guide

Best Neighborhoods for Families in Los Angeles

Best Neighborhoods in Los Angeles

Sean Morse
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