East Los Angeles vs San Francisco -which is better?
Anyone else feel this way? Born and raised here. Median household income is $68,378, which feels about average for the area. Household incomes average around $68,378 in East Los Angeles. Poverty rate is 13.9%, which is around average. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
1 upvotes
27 Replies
Carter Wilson
Moved here last year, no regrets.
40 upvotes
urban_brielle70
noted, appreciate it
39 upvotes
Jayden Bennett
My experience has been mostly positive. I'm still on the fence after all this time. The only thing I'd watch out for is school system. Other than that, Happy to answer more specific questions..
34 upvotes
Jayden Harris
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
33 upvotes
James Patel
Public transit is hit or miss here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's exactly what I was looking for.
31 upvotes
Hudson
The food scene here is underrated. Tons of great craft beer places. I have mixed feelings honestly.
31 upvotes
Isla T.
+1
29 upvotes
Ava Bailey
I work in retail here and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market for my field is underrated. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
29 upvotes
Isabella Collins
Used to live on the North side, now on the Lakewood side. Completely different vibe. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
28 upvotes
Jordan Ruiz
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
27 upvotes
Austin Patel
bump
25 upvotes
Paisley Ward
literally same
24 upvotes
Ryan Johnson
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 53, moved here 7 years ago from Tampa. I've lived in Maple Ridge and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The food scene situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Maple Ridge: Great for couples. improving vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Tampa, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
23 upvotes
Hazel Jones
facts
22 upvotes
Autumn Chavez
This.
19 upvotes
Stella C.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in The Heights for 15 years. Moved from San Diego for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is improving - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. The Heights schools are better than expected. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Winters are long and cold. Urban sprawl is real. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
18 upvotes
Allison M.
I work in tech here and the quality of life is solid. The job market for my field is underrated. Happy to answer more specific questions..
17 upvotes
Jeremiah Nguyen
this is the way
17 upvotes
Hazel Cook
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Midtown for 9 years. Moved from San Diego for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2024 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is solid - we have ski resorts within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Midtown schools are improving. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Winters are long and cold. Urban sprawl is real. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
16 upvotes
Declan Scott
seconding this
12 upvotes
sacramentopapa2025
I work in legal here and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The job market for my field is solid. Hope this helps!.
8 upvotes
Elena Collins
The food scene here is pretty good. Tons of great Korean places. I have mixed feelings honestly.
8 upvotes
Audrey
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from Chicago about 7 years ago. The main reasons were a fresh start and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Close to major attractions
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are established, gas is solid.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Definitely worth checking out..
7 upvotes
nolarider2026
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. dating scene used to be much competitive but now it's solid.
4 upvotes
Everett Morgan
nah I disagree
3 upvotes
Wyatt Murphy
I've lived in South for about 10 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it was the best decision I ever made. When I first moved here from Denver, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good airport with direct flights
- The school system scene is excellent
The downsides:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Chain restaurants dominate
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for families. Good luck with whatever you decide..
1 upvotes
Aaron Watson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Lakewood. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in engineering. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
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