These Are The 10 Best Los Angeles Suburbs For 2018

Big city living isn’t for everyone–but at the same time, urban areas certainly have their perks.

There’s the culture, the food, the arts, the food, the energy, and you know, the food. But there are drawbacks. There’s traffic, expensive parking, expensive housing–pretty much, expensive everything, depending on which big city you’re looking at.

But that’s where the suburbs come in–they have all of the benefits of being near big cities, without actually having to be big cities.

Of course, not all suburbs of Los Angeles are created equally, which is precisely why we set out to find the best ones. So without further ado…

Here are the 10 best suburbs around Los Angeles for 2018:

1. Hermosa Beach (Photos | Homes)
2. Manhattan Beach (Photos | Homes)
3. Palos Verdes Estates (Photos | Homes)
4. Redondo Beach (Photos | Homes)
5. Rancho Palos Verdes (Photos | Homes)
6. Rolling Hills Estates (Photos | Homes)
7. San Marino (Photos | Homes)
8. Sierra Madre (Photos | Homes)
9. Calabasas (Photos | Homes)
10. La Habra Heights (Homes)

If you happen to be a resident of Hermosa Beach, you’re probably not too surprised to find it on the top our list.

We’ll tell you what makes each of these 10 Los Angeles ‘burbs better than the rest–but first, a bit about our methodology.

For more California reading, check out:

• 10 Best Places To Live In California
• 10 Cheapest Places To Live In California
• 10 Most Dangerous Cities In California

Editor’s Note: If you see a slight difference between the best in state rankings and this suburb ranking, it’s because of the methodology. We needed a way to include more places, so we eliminated crime and commute times as criteria for this analysis.

How We Determined The Best Suburbs Around Los Angeles for 2018

Figuring out the best ‘burbs around Los Angeles was pretty simple; we just needed to list several things that people like, and then find out which cities have the most of those things.

We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible:

• Low unemployment rate
• High Median household incomes
• Population density (lots of things to do)
• High home values
• A lot of college educated people
• Low poverty
• High rate of insured families

Then we used the newest American Community Survey data (2012-2016) to research each suburb.

FYI: We defined a suburb as being within 30 miles of Los Angeles.

Additionally, we limited the analysis to places that have over 4,000 people. This left us with a grand total of 77 suburbs to evaluate around Los Angeles.

We ranked each place with scores from 1 to 77 in each category, where 1 was the “best.

Next, we averaged the rankings for each place to create a quality of life index.

And finally, we crowned the city with the best quality of life index the “Best Suburb near Los Angeles.” We’re lookin’ at you, Hermosa Beach.

Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best of the best. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the suburbs ranked from best to worst.

1. Hermosa Beach

Population: 19,726
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%
Median Home Price: $1,166,800
Median Income: $121,345
More on Hermosa Beach: Real Estate | Data

Hermosa Beach is always mentioned as one of the best suburbs in the Los Angeles area. We’ll tell you the good about “Awesome Hermosa Beach.”

Everyone here is rich; families average $121,345 a year, which is the 5th highest in the Los Angeles region. And only 4.1% are out of work. Homes average more than $1,166,800 each.

2. Manhattan Beach

Population: 35,573
Unemployment Rate: 5.1%
Median Home Price: $1,537,200
Median Income: $144,868
More on Manhattan Beach: Real Estate | Data

Manhattan Beach is the second best ‘burb we looked at near Los Angeles for 2018.

It ranks 2nd for incomes in the area and only 2.5% of residents lack insurance, good for 1st best.

3. Palos Verdes Estates

Population: 13,582
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%
Median Home Price: $1,609,500
Median Income: $200,766
More on Palos Verdes Estates: Real Estate | Data

Here in Palos Verdes Estates, it’s really safe, and residents are just about as rich as you’ll see in the Los Angeles metro area.

The bad side? Schools are more crowded, and the cost of living puts a large part of the city out of reach for most families.

But price is based on demand and a lot of people want to live in Palos Verdes Estates.

4. Redondo Beach

Population: 67,664
Unemployment Rate: 5.8%
Median Home Price: $775,300
Median Income: $103,782
More on Redondo Beach: Real Estate | Data

Redondo Beach ranks as the 4th best suburb of Los Angeles for 2018.

You won’t find many better places to raise your kids in the region than in Redondo Beach and the schools are some of the best around.

5. Rancho Palos Verdes

Population: 42,412
Unemployment Rate: 4.3%
Median Home Price: $1,003,300
Median Income: $120,668
More on Rancho Palos Verdes: Real Estate | Data

Coming in as the fifth best is Rancho Palos Verdes.

Rancho Palos Verdes gets kudos for having the 9th most expensive homes in the Los Angeles area, where houses sell for an average of $1,003,300. However, the cost of living here is among the highest in the area.

6. Rolling Hills Estates

Population: 8,206
Unemployment Rate: 4.4%
Median Home Price: $1,096,400
Median Income: $129,728
More on Rolling Hills Estates: Real Estate | Data

Rolling Hills Estates is proud of its 6th place finish on this list. And here’s why.

Most residents have great jobs and the unemployment rate sits at 4.4% which is 5th best in the area.

According to online reports, Rolling Hills Estates is quickly becoming one of the more affluent suburbs in the Los Angeles area, meaning you need to get in soon.

7. San Marino

Population: 13,324
Unemployment Rate: 4.3%
Median Home Price: $1,518,400
Median Income: $139,792
More on San Marino: Real Estate | Data

The 7th best suburb on our list goes to San Marino.

San Marino schools are some of the best in the region, and crime is really low. The cost of living makes it a lot more desirable for many families, especially first-time home buyers.

And, it’s only 18.5 miles to downtown, which is a good thing.

8. Sierra Madre

Population: 11,067
Unemployment Rate: 5.3%
Median Home Price: $861,200
Median Income: $95,256
More on Sierra Madre: Real Estate | Data

Sierra Madre is growing quickly, and for a good reason. Crime is far below average, and most residents are gainfully employed. Even the cost of living is reasonable.

A solid 3.7% of people lack insurance, good for 4th in the area.

9. Calabasas

Population: 24,091
Unemployment Rate: 5.2%
Median Home Price: $926,800
Median Income: $111,111
More on Calabasas: Real Estate | Data

Is ‘Everything Better In Calabasas?’

Almost.

It placed 9th on our list thanks to the fact that it’s really expensive to live here, but the schools are great, so you get what you pay for in that regard.

10. La Habra Heights

Population: 5,406
Unemployment Rate: 4.9%
Median Home Price: $893,200
Median Income: $110,329
More on La Habra Heights: Real Estate | Data

And rounding out the top ten for 2018 is La Habra Heights.

This city is far above average in every category, and the best part? It’s far more affordable than the other cities listed above. So, you get a big bang for your buck here.

Welcome to the Best Los Angeles ‘Burbs of 2018

We said it once and we’ll say it again–life in the big city isn’t for everyone. At least not all the time.

So if you’re hankering for some of the amenities of a larger city like Los Angeles, but don’t want to deal with the drawbacks, one of these suburbs might just be for you.

For more California reading , check out:

• 10 Safest Places In California
• 10 Worst Places To Live In California

Detailed List Of The Best Los Angeles Suburbs

Rank	City	Population	Unemployment Rate	Median Home Price	Median Income
1	Hermosa Beach	19,726	4.1%	$1,166,800	$121,345
2	Manhattan Beach	35,573	5.1%	$1,537,200	$144,868
3	Palos Verdes Estates	13,582	2.0%	$1,609,500	$200,766
4	Redondo Beach	67,664	5.8%	$775,300	$103,782
5	Rancho Palos Verdes	42,412	4.3%	$1,003,300	$120,668
6	Rolling Hills Estates	8,206	4.4%	$1,096,400	$129,728
7	San Marino	13,324	4.3%	$1,518,400	$139,792
8	Sierra Madre	11,067	5.3%	$861,200	$95,256
9	Calabasas	24,091	5.2%	$926,800	$111,111
10	La Habra Heights	5,406	4.9%	$893,200	$110,329
11	Agoura Hills	20,689	5.3%	$699,200	$114,313
12	South Pasadena	25,936	6.2%	$876,900	$84,593
13	Malibu	12,853	6.1%	$1,802,800	$116,904
14	Beverly Hills	34,627	8.0%	$1,900,500	$100,630
15	Cypress	48,978	5.2%	$540,900	$84,469
16	Cerritos	49,797	6.6%	$620,500	$95,373
17	Torrance	147,307	6.4%	$652,600	$80,862
18	Santa Monica	92,247	8.3%	$1,086,300	$82,123
19	El Segundo	16,901	7.2%	$828,300	$91,623
20	Arcadia	57,755	6.5%	$920,700	$83,958
21	West Hollywood	35,661	7.3%	$642,200	$61,127
22	La Palma	15,834	6.4%	$602,000	$83,760
23	Simi Valley	126,126	6.2%	$472,700	$91,196
24	Lakewood	81,054	6.3%	$445,800	$82,175
25	Thousand Oaks	128,623	7.9%	$637,100	$101,045
26	La Mirada	49,130	6.9%	$448,400	$81,956
27	Los Alamitos	11,661	7.8%	$680,100	$80,926
28	Buena Park	82,771	5.7%	$448,900	$70,341
29	Whittier	86,630	6.7%	$458,500	$67,431
30	Pasadena	140,268	7.1%	$649,800	$73,029
31	Lomita	20,652	8.0%	$532,300	$61,580
32	Santa Clarita	180,303	8.1%	$417,400	$85,042
33	Seal Beach	24,510	6.3%	$308,400	$60,222
34	Alhambra	84,866	6.0%	$518,800	$53,138
35	Artesia	16,789	5.2%	$419,500	$58,651
36	Downey	113,223	6.8%	$449,900	$65,332
37	San Gabriel	40,200	6.9%	$605,600	$54,015
38	Monrovia	37,090	9.6%	$583,300	$67,167
39	West Covina	107,634	9.9%	$430,800	$71,217
40	Fullerton	139,491	8.6%	$551,300	$67,110
41	Glendale	197,895	9.2%	$639,700	$56,069
42	Monterey Park	61,001	7.5%	$532,700	$54,008
43	Santa Fe Springs	17,436	4.9%	$371,400	$58,147
44	Signal Hill	11,404	7.0%	$446,000	$70,286
45	La Habra	61,660	10.0%	$436,200	$65,799
46	Lawndale	33,161	7.0%	$401,700	$51,934
47	Norwalk	106,360	8.0%	$350,600	$61,050
48	Carson	92,780	10.8%	$366,700	$73,829
49	Gardena	59,898	8.3%	$372,500	$50,137
50	Bellflower	77,687	8.3%	$367,300	$50,704
51	Long Beach	469,793	9.4%	$448,800	$55,151
52	Pico Rivera	63,724	8.6%	$351,300	$57,203
53	Duarte	21,792	10.4%	$385,600	$65,571
54	Rosemead	54,507	8.2%	$455,100	$45,510
55	Azusa	48,498	8.1%	$342,000	$56,569
56	Montebello	63,416	8.1%	$413,900	$47,518
57	Hawthorne	86,938	9.8%	$419,600	$45,089
58	La Puente	40,384	8.1%	$343,000	$57,174
59	San Fernando	24,396	8.6%	$343,500	$55,734
60	Stanton	38,594	8.0%	$322,200	$48,332
61	Baldwin Park	76,511	8.8%	$333,500	$53,651
62	Inglewood	111,012	13.3%	$355,300	$44,377
63	El Monte	115,665	9.2%	$374,900	$40,654
64	South El Monte	20,566	7.0%	$363,100	$42,460
65	Paramount	54,941	9.1%	$283,400	$46,364
66	Westlake	4,611	8.2%	$98,900	$48,900
67	Temple	4,287	11.5%	$102,600	$46,680
68	South Gate	95,219	11.7%	$329,000	$45,522
69	Lynwood	71,233	10.2%	$312,100	$43,848
70	Maywood	27,672	9.5%	$325,600	$36,696
71	Hawaiian Gardens	14,468	10.5%	$288,200	$36,026
72	Bell	35,927	11.4%	$322,900	$38,823
73	Huntington Park	58,921	11.1%	$322,300	$35,629
74	Bell Gardens	42,805	10.6%	$318,700	$37,183
75	Compton	97,740	13.9%	$264,300	$45,406
76	Cudahy	24,106	11.9%	$285,900	$39,058
77	Commerce	12,997	11.4%	$343,200	$42,235