OT: Help with relocating to Eastern LA suburbs

Submitted by WichitanWolverine on

I need some help with relocating to California. This board always seems to have great advice no matter how random the question, and I know there's a big MGoCommunity out here.

I'm currently working a 3-month assignment in Chino (yes, I'm aware of how lame it is) and there's a good chance I'll be working here long-term in the next few months. However, I think I'd go insane if I had to live here for more than just this short stint.

My wife is still in Ann Arbor but she will be joining me for the long-term job. She thinks her best opportunity for work (she's in the biology/natural science field) is either in LA or Pasadena. So my primary question is...where should we try to live?

We're both young and without kids. Ideally, we'd like to find something very similar to Ann Arbor out here. Most of the suburbs between LA and Chino seem to be very quiet and family-oriented. Nothing wrong with that, but not what we're looking for. 

Fullerton, which obviously has the big college, seems like the best bet, but we haven't really seen it in person yet.  Anyone have any thoughts on Fullerton? Or any other suggestions on where to look? How far away can we look with traffic still manageable?

Thanks in advance.

 

CodeBlue82

May 9th, 2015 at 6:49 AM ^

Good advice re Claremont and Pasadena. Both have nice college/university communities. Aim to be reasonably near a Metrolink station (Park and Ride, bicycle, short bus trip or even walking) so you won't fight the traffic. Around UC-Irvine or beach towns (Newport, Huntington), would also be my choice in OC.  Don't sweat about it, but before you finally settle on a place, spend a few minutes online checking the streetgang maps, faultlines and firezones.

Smash Lampjaw

May 9th, 2015 at 8:44 AM ^

Love Claremont. My daughter spent the last 4 years there at Pomona College (she turned down Michigan, sadly). Every May they have Ski/Beach Day, when they go east to ski in the morning and west to the beach in the afternoon. Very convenient to Ontario Airport, too. When kids move to California do they ever come back?




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ShipKyleOC

May 9th, 2015 at 11:34 AM ^

I live in Fullerton and love it, great area because you have a nice mix. You have a night scene, suburbs, and many other cool towns close to you. Pasadena is a little older of a town and not close to LA in the way you think it is. Pasadena would also cost you a bit more too. Traffic would be fine because you are going against the flow not with it. Also your wife would have more options for work too.

HonoluluBlue

May 9th, 2015 at 12:17 PM ^

Claremont is by far the most similar thing to Ann Arbor in Southern California. Fullerton is Orange County which is not at all like Ann Arbor. Claremont's unnoficial motto is the town of PhD's and trees, very liberal, decent downtown, close to nature and the San Gabriel mountains and Mt. Baldy. If you want more urban go for Pasadena. Very good downtown yet still very close to nature and the foothills. Not a place to raise kids but since that's not an issue for you it might be perfect. I would say with kids go to Claremont, without kids go to Pasadena. By the way, I have lived in Glendora for 15 years which is basically in the middle of Claremont and Pasadena. 

Wolvermarines

May 9th, 2015 at 12:51 PM ^

Agree with this. I grew up in Orange County and moved to Claremont 5 years ago. A gem in this area for a family with active/engaged parents. I commute to Anaheim everyday (1hour) but prefer to live in Claremont than OC. However if I was without kids I'd go with Pasadena or Newport Beach depending on what you prefer. Send me a note if you want more help thinking it through.

HonoluluBlue

May 9th, 2015 at 4:22 PM ^

Pasadena has really bad schools. There was an article in the Pasadena Star news (10-15 years ago but still holds true) that Pasadena Unified loses a higher percentage of kids to private schools than any other city in California. I would not want to send my kids to school there. That's the main reason we chose Glendora. If it was solely up to me we'd live in Claremont but the ten miles we save on our commutes does make a big difference. We still spend a lot of time in Claremont and my kids play AYSO there and what not.