Areas and suburbs in Los Angeles

The best places to live in Los Angeles

Most areas and suburbs of Los Angeles have carved out their own niche and come with their own sense of identity, character and atmosphere. With an overwhelming array of options, house hunting in LA can be harrowing, but with a little patience, you're sure to find an area that ticks all of your boxes.

Here are some recommended neighbourhoods in Los Angeles.

Family-friendly areas in Los Angeles

San Fernando Valley

Often referred to simply as 'the Valley', this large area of LA is a seemingly endless sprawl of affluent suburbs and malls. Boasting both Ventura Boulevard, an expansive strip of shopping, dining, and entertainment options, and Universal Studios Hollywood, arguably the broker of the world's most famous movie magic, families with children will find little beyond their reach in this area of town.

Pasadena

Just 10 miles (16 km) from the city centre, Pasadena offers families easy access to highways while still allowing them to maintain the leisurely lifestyle most typically associated with a not-so-sleepy town. Old Town Pasadena presents residents with a pedestrian-friendly centre where an assortment of bars, boutiques, cafés, and restaurants cluster together. Charming neighbourhoods populated with quaint California bungalows sit aside good-quality schools, cultural institutions and top-notch universities.

Beachside living in Los Angeles

Santa Monica

This popular beach community marries all the characteristics of an urban centre with the beauty of a seaside destination. With a cost of living lower than Malibu's and a character cleaner than that of Venice Beach, Santa Monica is a suitable option for middle-class newcomers taken with the idea of fresh ocean air and the famed Third Street Promenade – a pedestrian-only entertainment, dining, and shopping venue.

Venice Beach

The edgier cousin of Santa Monica and Malibu, Venice Beach's beachside community is considered slightly more bohemian. The iconic boardwalk offers residents a prime people-watching and exercise platform, but it can be dangerous at night. This is a great area for young artsy couples or beach bodies looking for an easygoing neighbourhood with plenty of eclectic entertainment on offer.

Young and hip areas in Los Angeles

Culver City

An up-and-coming neighbourhood with all the energy and buzz of a big city packed into a small town, Culver City is increasingly being called home by a young, diverse crowd of residents. Constantly evolving and developing, there's always something new and exciting going on in Culver City.

Silver Lake

This hilly neighbourhood acts as a point of congregation for throngs of creatives. Countless coffee bars, art galleries, and ethnic restaurants may entice those new arrivals of artistic inclination, while the area's large reservoir proves an attractive asset for those with dogs or those who fancy a bit of greenery.

Luxury living in Los Angeles

Beverly Hills

Referring to residents of this neighbourhood as upper-crust would be an understatement. Beverly Hills is one of the wealthiest areas of Los Angeles, and unsurprisingly, one of the quietest and safest. Many of Hollywood's megastars play house behind the perfectly manicured hedges. The area is also renowned for its ritzy shopping options, most notably the famed Rodeo Drive. Those with big dreams of settling down in this area will need a super-sized budget to match.

West Hollywood

The home of Sunset Strip, West Hollywood is an upscale area that is less expensive than Beverly Hills but still offers luxury. The area is known to be clean and safe, and many young families are beginning to flock to this neighbourhood. West Hollywood is known as a walkable area with fantastic furniture stores, restaurants, and boutique retail outlets.