Alright, I'm a remote worker and You can expect to pay around $1,431 for rent here. With a population of 115K, East Los Angeles is a mid-size city. It's a a mid-size city city with about 115K people. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Is this normal for East Los Angeles? TIA! Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The suburbs are where most families end up. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
23 upvotes
16 Replies
Nova Ramirez
Moved here from Phoenix about 8 years ago. I have mixed feelings honestly. Still getting used to school system but Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
40 upvotes
David Jimenez
We moved here with our family and I genuinely enjoy living here. Schools in Oak Park area are average. Kids love it here.
37 upvotes
Nolan M.
seconding this
30 upvotes
Brooks Torres
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. Feel free to reach out with questions..
21 upvotes
Lillian Harris
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 6 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the outdoor recreation is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
21 upvotes
Deborah L.
+1
20 upvotes
Ian P.
it depends on the neighborhood
19 upvotes
Claire K.
not my experience at all
18 upvotes
Ian Harris
Bought a house here in 2015 and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
13 upvotes
Dylan Anderson
As someone who grew up here, I genuinely enjoy living here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. job market used to be much pricey but now it's surprisingly good.
13 upvotes
Piper Torres
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want food scene, then yeah this place is great. But if cultural scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
11 upvotes
Emilia
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 47, moved here 9 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Oak Park and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Road conditions need improvement
3. The school system situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- Westside: 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 Boston, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $100K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. 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.
9 upvotes
Christian Wright
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's exactly what I was looking for. Internet is improving in most areas.
9 upvotes
Clara R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 51, moved here 8 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in Pine Hills and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Nightlife is limited
3. The safety situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for remote workers. challenging vibes, walkable.
- South: 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 Dallas, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $80K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. 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.
7 upvotes
Austin Jones
Totally agree!
5 upvotes
Katherine
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from Dallas and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Springfield. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in legal. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Southern.
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