Los Angeles

About Los Angeles

Los Angeles is often the first city that comes to mind when people think of California, accompanied by images of towering palm trees, glamorous city streets and the beautiful Pacific Ocean. The city earned its fame with the creation of the motion picture industry in the 1920s, resulting in a dramatic increase in population size.

Los Angeles Population

The second largest city in the United States, the City of Angels has a population of around 3.8 million people over 470 square miles. Opportunities for work and play in Los Angeles are dynamic, from its professional sports teams and venues, major museums, and the film and television industry to renowned colleges and universities, the music business, and apparel centers.

About Los Angeles Economy

With two major ports, robust international trade, and manufacturing, L.A. is an economic powerhouse. As the biggest metropolis in California, it is also the largest city in the fourth largest economy in the world. Nearly 3 million visitors arrive every year, eager to see where movies are made or hoping to call La-La Land home.

A range of opportunities is available in a variety of industries, including retail and hospitality. This fast-paced city is also home to the country's major motion picture, television, and music production companies and businesses.

Downtown itself has been undergoing a renaissance as not only a destination for work and entertainment, but as a place to live.

Living in Los Angeles

While rents in Los Angeles are about one-third less than in New York City, they are still very high. With a median home price more than $1 million, affordable housing is a major concern. Whether you live in the hills, in or around Downtown, near the coast, or somewhere in-between, there is a range of possibilities from apartments, lofts, high rises, townhouses, and condos to multi-family or single-family homes. Many Angelenos opt for the towns and suburbs of surrounding San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley to get a little more space at a lower cost.

Outdoor L.A. Attractions

One myth about L.A. remains true: you could be snowboarding up at Big Bear in the morning then drive down the mountain to surf Malibu in the afternoon. Year-round outdoor living and recreation are a prime draw. Hiking hilltop trails offers fantastic views, such as Dante's Peak in Griffith Park or the Mulholland Dam Trail.

Besides mountain biking the steep hills, long rides along the Los Angeles River or the paved path through the sand at the beach are just a few options for bicycle enthusiasts.

Los Angeles Nightlife

Nightlife abounds in old venues all along Sunset Strip as well as new ones Downtown such as L.A. Live, which is centered around Crypto.com Arena but includes the GRAMMY Museum, restaurants, and theaters galore.

The Greek Theater and Hollywood Bowl are legendary outdoor performance venues built into those hills, while many city and neighborhood parks combine both sports and active cultural centers.

L.A. Weather

Los Angeles is often compared with New York City, given its highly rated colleges and universities, museums, sports teams, entertainment venues and businesses. However, L.A. has a much more moderate climate that consists of sunny days and temperatures in the high 70s. For this reason, many prefer it over its much chillier metropolitan competitor, New York.

Los Angeles Neighborhoods

Here are just a few of the wonderful neighborhoods that Los Angeles has to offer:

Silver Lake

Silver Lake is a trendy neighborhood located in Central Los Angeles, and was the home of Walt Disney's first large studio. Today, it's become a hub for alternative and indie rock, often compared with the hip Williamsburg neighborhood in New York City.

Venice

Venice is the epitome of a casual beach town, home to a diverse crowd of people who maintain the vibrant spirit it is best known for. The fact that it shares its name with the well-known Italian city of canals is no coincidence; millionaire founder Abbott Kinney intended it to be a seaside resort inspired by the famous European destination. The city does have a network of canal waterways lined with homes.

Hollywood

You can't talk about Los Angeles without mentioning Hollywood, which many people consider the heart of the city. Here the U.S. film and television industry emerged, with landmarks like Charlie Chaplin Studios still serving as a throwback to the area's silver-screen roots.

Bel Air

Bel Air is an affluent neighborhood in L.A. that features heavily in pop culture and entertainment. The community's Hannah Carter Japanese Gardens were inspired by authentic Kyoto gardens and feature antique stone carvings, a five-tiered pagoda and symbolic rocks.

Los Feliz

Los Feliz translates to "the happy," a fitting name considering it was the birthplace of Mickey Mouse, the famous face of "The Happiest Place on Earth." Walt Disney drew his first sketch of the cartoon character in the garage of his uncle's Los Feliz home. Today it's home to one of the Disney studios, as well as a handful of other movie studios.

Brentwood

Brentwood offers easy access to a variety of outdoor activities, providing an active lifestyle within close distance of its many upscale homes. The nearby Santa Monica Mountains have several hiking trails and scenic views of the area.

San Fernando Valley

The San Fernando Valley is an urban community surrounded by several California mountain ranges including Simi Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains. Here, you can explore the massive Griffith Park, considered the "Central Park of Los Angeles."

West Los Angeles

The West Los Angeles area is split by the 405 Freeway, with each side maintaining a distinct identity. This community hosts one of Los Angeles' many annual Cherry Blossom festivals, celebrating the arrival of spring with the blooming pink flower.

Miracle Mile

Los Angeles' Miracle Mile was created in the late 1930s, carefully engineered to appeal to drivers rather than pedestrians. Plenty of parking lots were constructed, and signs and architectural features were designed to angle toward the street, perfectly visible through a car's windshield at average cruising speed. Today, it's home to Museum Row, where you can visit several of the city's top museums.

Mid-City

Mid-City Los Angeles is widely known for its roots in the performing arts and music, and it was the site of Ray Charles' main recording studio. There are several well-known historic venues in the community including The Mint, established in 1937 and host to music icons like Stevie Wonder, Macy Gray and Natalie Cole.

West L.A.

Sprawling on both sides of the 405 freeway, this huge area offers proximity to UCLA and the communities of Beverly Hills, Culver City and Santa Monica. The spectacular Getty Museum perched high atop West L.A. is a must-visit, with its outstanding art, architecture, events, and panoramic views. Many westside neighborhoods are walkable, getting cooler the closer you are to the ocean.

Los Angeles Schools

From pre-K through high school, L.A. Unified School District provides public education for the city and into neighboring communities with more than 1,000 schools, including magnet schools, charter schools, as well as programs in STEM and the arts. Higher education brings a huge influx to L.A., from standouts like UCLA and USC to Loyola Marymount. Students seek bachelor, graduate, and medical degrees, as well as specialty training related to the film industry and design.

Resources for Moving to Los Angeles

Here are a few handy tips for relocating to the City of Angels. For more, bookmark its homepage at lacity.gov.

• Utilities: Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) provides water and electricity. For gas service, contact Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas).
• Trash & Recycling: L.A. Sanitation & Environment (LASAN) collects trash and recyclables weekly. Call or input your address on their website to start service or find out your collection day. Contact LASAN for free pickup of items too large for your bins, beds and refrigerators, or bulky items that have been dumped nearby. Drop-off disposal services include household hazardous waste, electronics, and tires.
• Transportation: Despite its reputation as an automobile mecca, Los Angeles has been vigilant about expanding its mass transit. For example, Los Angeles International Airport is now accessible via light rail at LAX/Metro Transit Center. From Union Station Downtown you can access the Metro for city travel, including bus, light rail, and subway. Metrolink, a heavy rail system, connects to surrounding counties. Designed for commuters, Metrolink is deeply discounted on the weekends. Link to national transportation via Amtrak and Greyhound. Los Angeles International Airport is the main airport, but other area options include Hollywood Burbank, John Wayne in Orange County, Long Beach International, and Ontario International.

Los Angeles Housing

Los Angeles boasts miles of scenic coastline and waterfront housing options, in addition to sprawling residential suburbs that fill every last corner of the city.

Although homes in this city are often more expensive in comparison to the rest of the country, many residents find that the wide array of employment opportunities, top-rated schools and big-city amenities make buying a home here more than worth the investment.