Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, aka the City of Flowers and Sunshine, aka the City of Angels, aka La-La Land, is one of the most well-known cities in the world. In fact, it’s the entertainment capital of the world. Situated in Southern California, the beautiful and diverse city is best known for its beaches, hillside housing, mild climate, and Tinseltown glitz. The city has been ranked as one of the best locations to live in California. It offers some spectacular attractions and fun activities such as visiting the glamorous film studios, the Sunset Strip, Venice Beach, landmark museums, world-famous amusement parks, breweries, exciting nightlife, and warm, sunny weather. Los Angeles is a city for dreamers!

The average home price in Los Angeles is approximately $679,200. According to experts, home values are constantly rising in this big city. For instance, there has been an increase of 6.4% since last year. Living in Los Angeles is definitely not cheap – the median price of a home here is much higher than the U.S. average. And this is in spite of the fact that the Los Angeles housing market is a neutral one – it’s neither a buyer’s market nor a seller’s market.

The average monthly rent in Los Angeles is approximately $2,524. And, the average apartment size is 792 square feet. Keep in mind that rent prices vary greatly – by house size, locality, neighborhood, and property features. While some smaller apartments may cost around $1,500 per month to rent other more desirable beachfront homes may cost more than $4,000per month!

City highlights

Los Angeles is the largest city in California. And, is the second most populous city in the United States after New York City. LA has always been synonymous with cinematic sparkle – thanks to the glamorous film studios, the historic Hollywood Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre, and the impromptu celeb spotting. Besides, there is the famous Griffith Observatory, Getty Center, and Paramount Pictures Studios (the only television and film studio left in Hollywood). Everything about Los Angeles spells grandeur – from trendy eateries and hip cafes to the fantastic weather and the gorgeous sandy beaches. Did you know, Los Angeles is the only North American city that has hosted the Olympics twice?

Geographic location

Most of the city lies in a basin in Southern California bordering the Pacific Ocean in the west. It extends partly through the Santa Monica Mountains. That’s why the city of Los Angeles is both flat and hilly. The city covers a total area of 502.7 square miles out of which 468.7 square miles is land and 34 square miles is water.

Climate

Los Angeles has a typical Mediterranean climate and is temperate all year round during the day. The summers are dry and the winter months are mild. The ideal months to travel to Los Angeles are March through May and September through November.

Demography

As per the 2010 U.S. census, Los Angeles recorded a population of 3,792,621 and a population density of 8,092.3 people per square mile. The culturally and ethnically rich city is home to people from more than 140 countries. What’s more, there are 224 different types of identified languages spoken here.

The racial makeup of Los Angeles is 49.8% Whites, 9.6% African Americans, 0.7% Native Americans, 11.3% Asians, 0.1% Pacific Islanders, and the rest of the population is from other races.

The median age in Los Angeles is 34.1 years.

Cost of Living

Los Angeles’ cost of living is 7% more expensive than the state average and 51% more expensive than the national average. Housing costs in Los Angeles, California, are a whopping 132% higher than the national average, while utility costs are 8% higher.

Living in Los Angeles is expensive – a single person looking to fulfill basic requirements (a basic lifestyle, a small apartment, with little to no amenities) would need to make at least $3,500 per month.

For a more comfortable lifestyle, a person would have to match the average household income of $63,000 per year.

Transportation

Los Angeles is notorious for its heavy traffic and congestion. Unfortunately, the situation is getting worse year after year for the commuters. Despite the traffic problem, many Los Angeles residents still rely on their cars for getting around the city. Keep in mind that the city is spread out across 500 square miles. The public transportation system, which includes Metro Buses, DASH Buses, and Metro Rail Trains, has somewhat limited routes as compared to other metropolitan cities. Downtown Los Angeles is quite a walkable area though.

Schools

Some of the top-rated schools in Los Angeles, based on academic performance and equity, are Kenter Canyon Elementary School, Community Magnet Charter Elementary School, Fairburn Avenue Elementary School, Mar Vista Elementary School, Renaissance Arts Academy, John Burroughs Middle School, Paul Revere Middle School, Math, Science, & Technology Magnet Academy At Roosevelt High, Middle College High School, Alliance Marc & Eva Stern Math And Science, and Puc Lakeview Charter High School.

What is the city like?

Los Angeles, a part of Los Angeles County, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Southern California. Not many cities in the U.S. offer as much as LA does to its residents – a diverse art and culture scene, incredible weather, tons of opportunities for outdoor recreation, amazing views of the ocean, one of the best dining options, and a bustling, lively nightlife. Apart from artists and Hollywood stars, this city of opportunity appeals to professionals too. If you’re a fan of Hollywood stars, gorgeous beaches, and days full of sunshine – LA is the place for you. And, by the way, kids love Los Angeles, thanks to its proximity to the various theme parks – from Disneyland and LEGOLAND to California Adventure and Universal Studios.