Los Angeles

Best Los Angeles suburbs for young professionals

Ranked on employment and income at 25%, amenities at 25%, commute at 20%, median rent at 15% (lower is better) and cost of living at 15%. Schools are not counted.

Updated Sep 2026·60 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
This is a photo of a place or building that is listed on the California Historical Landmark listing in the United States. Its reference number is
Costa Mesa$1.12M median · 22.4 min commute
Employment C+Amenities A+Commute B+
72
Score
overall 70 B−
2
Casa Del Mar Hotel — on the beach in Santa Monica, Southern California. Built in a Renaissance Revival-Mediterranean Revival style in 1926 as an elite beach clu
Santa Monica$1.76M median · 24.8 min commute
Employment CAmenities A+Commute B
70
Score
overall 71 B−
3
MCAS Tustin hangar No. 2.
Tustin$950k median · 22.8 min commute
Employment CAmenities ACommute B
69
Score
overall 67 C+
4
Pasadena City Hall
Pasadena$1.09M median · 26.9 min commute
Employment C−Amenities A+Commute B−
68
Score
overall 62 C
5
Founders Hall, Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo, California.
Aliso Viejo$918k median · 25.1 min commute
Employment BAmenities A−Commute B−
67
Score
overall 68 B−
6
Torrance City Hall in the civic center complex on Torrance Boulevard, Torrance, California.
Torrance$1.07M median · 26.9 min commute
Employment C−Amenities A+Commute C+
67
Score
overall 66 C+
7
I took this photo on March 21, 2007, from the southwest end of the island formed by the intersection of PCH with 190th/Anita/Herondo & Catalina in Redondo B
Redondo Beach$1.28M median · 27.0 min commute
Employment B−Amenities ACommute B−
67
Score
overall 69 B−
8
An exterior view of the Serrano Adobe facing northeast.
Lake Forest$937k median · 25.5 min commute
Employment C+Amenities A−Commute B−
66
Score
overall 67 C+
9
The Burbank media district, view from Griffith Park, with Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the foreground.
Burbank$1.09M median · 26.0 min commute
Employment DAmenities A+Commute B−
66
Score
overall 63 C+
10
"The City of Newport Beach" July 2014 photo by Don Ramey Logan
Newport Beach$2.00M+ median · 22.9 min commute
Employment B−Amenities B+Commute A−
66
Score
overall 72 B−
This list's weighting
Employment 25%Amenities 25%Commute 20%Median rent (lower is better) 15%Cost of living 15%
Other Los Angeles lists
Best Los Angeles suburbs for familiesMost affordable Los Angeles suburbsBest Los Angeles suburbs for schoolsShortest commutes to Downtown Los AngelesMost walkable Los Angeles suburbsHow we score Los Angeles suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Costa Mesa (pelle68 · CC BY-SA 3.0); Santa Monica (User:User2004 · Public domain); Tustin (Lordkinbote at English Wikipedia (Robert A. Estremo) · CC BY-SA 2.0); Pasadena (David Wakely · CC BY-SA 2.5); Aliso Viejo (Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0); Torrance (Thurifer · CC BY-SA 4.0); Redondo Beach (Funhistory · Public domain); Lake Forest (Eli Pousson · CC BY-SA 2.0); Burbank (Junkyardsparkle · CC0); Newport Beach (Don Ramey Logan · CC BY-SA 4.0).