While living in the city of Los Angeles puts you at the center of all the action, gives you access to trendy restaurants and bars, and offers you overall convenience, some people prefer a quieter living situation. There are several quiet residential areas inside the city limits, but these communities are extremely desirable and rarely have affordable homes available. Luckily, there are many inexpensive suburbs around Los Angeles County that offer everything a homeowner and their family might need including local shopping, amenities, pedestrian trails, quality eateries, and more. However, not all suburbs are created equal. 

Below is a helpful list of affordable suburbs close to Los Angeles.

Downey

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The laidback suburb of Downey is known for being home to entrepreneurs, families, and business owners. It’s located approximately 12 miles from Downtown Los Angeles, which is only a 20-minute drive once you hop on one of the freeways. The city is near four major LA freeways (the I-105, I-5, I-605, and I-710), allowing residents easy access to both Los Angeles and Orange County.

With plenty of amenities in Downey, from recreational parks and movie theaters to shopping centers and golf courses, there’s plenty of activities to indulge in. Even though more people are moving into the city, the city is accommodating by building more housing developments. According to Downey’s planning department, there are about 10 new housing developments in the works.

Monterey Park

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Why live in Los Angeles when there are several reasons to live in Monterey Park? The city is located on the westside of the San Gabriel Valley, which is a premiere destination when it comes to finding authentic Asian eateries, especially specialty bakeries. Many Angelenos are actually scrambling out of the city to make that half-hour drive to Monterey Park for some of those delicious bakery goodies.

According to How Much, a website that visualizes money and creates in-depth cost guides, Monterey Park’s average household income of $57,419 combined with its estimated five percent projected job growth by the end of 2018 makes it the best suburb to live in all of California.

Sherman Oaks

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Sherman Oaks has been growing in popularity with young families and working professionals who want to experience suburb living. Residents enjoy convenient access to countless freeways, including I-405, I-101, CA-118, I-5, CA-170, and even CA-27. Surrounded by so many freeways, traveling to LA neighborhoods is a breeze, and residents can reach areas like West Hollywood and Beverly Hills in less than half an hour.

Popular shopping malls include the outdoor Sherman Oaks Galleria and Westfield Fashion Square, which attract both locals and out-of-towners. Also, Ventura Boulevard—the city’s main street for entertainment—is lined with trendy gastropubs, wine bars, cafes, and diverse restaurants. 

Glendale

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Located only eight miles away from downtown is the coveted city of Glendale. Although it was considered more affordable in the past, the increased popularity of the Americana Mall and the world-class Armenian American Museum has made housing more expensive around these areas. 

However, the city has many layers, and while there are sections that are more touristy and filled with attractions, there are also quiet residential areas with a country-like feel. For homeowners who want to live in a suburb that offers both canyon views and city amenities, head towards Glendale. It also sits across from the beloved Griffith Park and LA River. Although the Metro has its Glendale Station on Cerritos Avenue, most residents tend to drive as their main method of transportation.

Whittier

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Whittier is such a quintessential suburb that you might even recognize it from classics such as “Blow,” “Back to the Future,” and “The Wonder Years.” There are many reasons to live in this suburb, including its family-friendly communities, proximity to grocery stores, mom-and-pop shops, shopping outlets, and historic homes. Even though it has a charming small-town vibe and close proximity to many natural attractions, it’s also very pedestrian-friendly. Best of all, this gem of a city is located 25 minutes away from both Los Angeles and Orange County, so residents can easily drive between counties.