7.5 out of 10

Alhambra

Ranked 33rd best city in California
34.0828768077203 -118.137158671426
Great for
  • Safe & Sound
  • Public Transport
  • Clean & Green
  • Peace & Quiet
  • Schools
Not great for
  • Childcare
  • Parking
  • Pest Free
  •  
  •  
Who lives here?
  • Families with kids
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+

Reviews

3/5 rating details
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 1/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 1/5
  • Public Transport 2/5
2yrs+

"Quiet and safe, but the traffic and housing prices make it less than ideal."

I have been living in Alhambra for 5 years now. It's a relatively quiet suburb with various bars and nightlife options along Main Street for those looking for something to do. There are also a variety of restaurants in the area (Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Indian, Middle Eastern, American, etc.), and it's very safe (never had a problem walking alone in the middle of the night). It's also conveniently located north of the 10 freeway, which connects you to LA and the rest of the San Gabriel Valley. If you live near Main Street then I think it's walkable, as you're close to a lot of businesses. If you're not, then you're better off with a car. With that being said, living here has become increasingly difficult due to continually worsening traffic congestion along all the major streets (Garfield, Atlantic, Valley, Mission, etc.) and freeways (10, 710), especially during rush hour. I work 13 miles from home, and my daily commute one-way can range anywhere from 30-45 minutes, sometimes even an hour. I only see the problem getting worse as more huge apartment complexes are built along the streets here with no infrastructure being put in place to handle all the additional people that will be moving in. Public transport is basically a system of slow buses that are not really practical for those looking to get anywhere quickly, so I don't see that helping to ease traffic much either. Last but not least, the cost of living continues to increase, and housing prices have reached a level that I think are a bit ridiculous (a dumpy looking ugly old house built in the 1940s down the street from me was recently listed for >$600,000). But I guess that's pretty typical for anything here in LA County. I personally plan to (eventually) get out. BTW, parking on the residential streets here overnight requires that you pay for a city permit every year. So if you don't have a garage to park your car in, plan on shelling out some cash for that. Not very convenient if you plan on having guests over.
Pros
  • Good variety of restaurants
  • Close to freeways
  • A few gyms and various parks for fitness/recreation
  • 15 miles from downtown LA
Cons
  • Overnight street parking requires permit
  • Housing prices high
  • No dog park for dog owners
  • Traffic
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Students
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 5/5
  • Parking 5/5
  • Cost of Living 5/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
  • Schools 5/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"A very good city to live in"

Alhambra is 10-15 minutes away from the center of downtown Los Angeles. It is south of South Pasadena and Pasadena, west of San Marino and north of Monterey Park. It is a very friendly place, and lots of places to go for different kinds of food. There are fitness places, movie theaters, hospitals, bars and parks. Properties have been increasing in price as the population grows and less land to build houses on. Schools are good and it is a safe city.
Pros
  • 15 miles from downtown LA
  • Awesome Chinese district
Recommended for
  • Families with kids
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
2yrs+

"Diversified Well Run City Close to LA"

Alhambra is an exemplary, diversified city which is well run, has good schools and a friendly community atmosphere. It it known as the gateway city to the San Gabriel Valley. The community is primarily made up of Spanish and Craftmens style bungalows built in the 1930's and 1940's when Alhambra was a thriving industrial center, and a mix of apartment complexes and shopping/commercial centers.

Home prices are on the lower end for Los Angeles. The prices ranged from $199,000 to $379,000 while writing this review. The rentals were plentiful and ranged from $925/ month to $2,800/ month at the time of writing the review.

An affordable and convenient place to live close to LA.
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
2yrs+

"Great Asian Culture"

Alhambra is located just ten miles east or so from downtown LA along the busy I-10 freeway. This is a nice community with a predominately Chinese population. If you are looking for some of the best authentic Asian food or grocery stores in the area, here you will find it.

Like most of LA, there are some beautiful, expensive homes here, but overall, Alhambra is considered an affordable area. The most famous house here is also the most infamous. Phil Spector shot and killed the actress Lana Clarkson at his home, Pyreness Castle. Quite frankly, it’s a creepy looking house and has always had the reputation of being frightening. But other homes in the area are nice and many are in historical neighborhoods as well.

Entertainment is fairly predictable with not much in originality, unless you go to Valley Blvd and enjoy the Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and Korean restaurants. There are other good restaurants and The Hat is a popular town favorite known for their pastrami sandwiches. Almost anything you need is here so you don’t have to travel far if you don’t want to.

Public transportation is good but, as LA is well known for, plan on lots of traffic if you hop on the I-10. I don’t care when you travel, it just always seems busy and you always need to give yourself extra time to get anywhere. But again, that’s LA.

While I don’t have any experience with the Alhambra school district, I do understand they have a good reputation as well as some good private schools
Pros
  • 15 miles from downtown LA
  • Awesome Chinese district
  • Historical homes
Cons
  • Not much to offer
  • Traffic
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 1/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Schools 3/5
2yrs+

"Nice community just 15 minutes from downtown LA"

Alhambra is located just ten miles east or so from downtown LA along the busy I-10 freeway. This is a nice community with a predominately Chinese population. If you are looking for some of the best authentic Asian food or grocery stores in the area, here you will find it.

Like most of LA, there are some beautiful, expensive homes here, but overall, Alhambra is considered an affordable area. The most famous house here is also the most infamous. Phil Spector shot and killed the actress Lana Clarkson at his home, Pyreness Castle. Quite frankly, it’s a creepy looking house and has always had the reputation of being frightening. But other homes in the area are nice and many are in historical neighborhoods as well.

Entertainment is fairly predictable with not much in originality, unless you go to Valley Blvd and enjoy the Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and Korean restaurants. There are other good restaurants and The Hat is a popular town favorite known for their pastrami sandwiches. Almost anything you need is here so you don’t have to travel far if you don’t want to.

Public transportation is good but, as LA is well known for, plan on lots of traffic if you hop on the I-10. I don’t care when you travel, it just always seems busy and you always need to give yourself extra time to get anywhere. But again, that’s LA.

While I don’t have any experience with the Alhambra school district, I do understand they have a good reputation as well as some good private schools
Pros
  • Historical homes
  • Awesome Chinese district
  • 15 miles from downtown LA
Cons
  • Traffic
  • Not much to offer
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+

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