Los Angeles, California is an iconic city, and probably the first city that comes to mind when you think of California. Home to the Hollywood sign and celebrities galore, it shouldn’t come as a shock that 4 million people live in “the City of Angels.” However, LA’s median home sale price is around $950,000 which may not be in your budget. Don’t fret, there are plenty of affordable Los Angeles suburbs to consider house hunting in.
Whether you’re currently buying a home in Southern California or looking to make the move to the West Coast, check out 10 of the best affordable suburbs within driving distance of Los Angeles. That way you don’t have to miss out on weekend visits to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) or watching a Los Angeles Lakers game at your favorite bar.
#1: Baldwin Park, CA
Median home price: $643,000
Driving distance from Los Angeles: 15 minutes
Baldwin Park, CA homes for sale
With the median sale price of a home nearly $300K less than Los Angeles, Baldwin Park lands the number one spot on our list of most affordable Los Angeles suburbs. Baldwin Park has a population of around 72,000 and is about 15 minutes away from downtown L.A. without any traffic. Living in Baldwin Park, you’ll be close to The Original In-N-Out Burger Museum, a Southern California staple. This suburb is also home to a variety of parks such as Walnut Creek Nature Park and Morgan Park which offer grassy areas perfect for a sunny picnic.
#2: Montebello, CA
Median home price: $650,000
Driving distance from Los Angeles: 20 minutes
Montebello, CA homes for sale
Drive 20 minutes outside of Los Angeles and you’ll find yourself in the suburb of Montebello. Home to roughly 63,000 residents, this affordable town can be a great choice for people looking to remain close to Los Angeles without paying the price for a home in the city. In Montebello, you’ll find Montebello Barnyard Zoo, a petting zoo featuring pony rides and a train.
#3: Norwalk, CA
Median home price: $707,500
Driving distance from Los Angeles: 30 minutes
Norwalk, CA homes for sale
Norwalk is Los Angeles’s third most affordable suburb. Only 30 minutes from the city center you’ll find yourself shopping at The Grove in no time. Make sure to visit the D.D. Johnston-Hargitt House Museum, an iconic Eastlake Victorian home that represents Norwalk’s history. When living in this suburb of nearly 103,000 people, you can also spend time exploring the charming downtown.
#4: Bellflower, CA
Median home price: $722,500
Driving distance from Los Angeles: 30 minutes
Bellflower, CA homes for sale
A recognizable suburb of Los Angeles is Bellflower, where the home prices are almost $230K less than in Los Angeles. Bellflower has about 79,000 residents and is a great suburb to consider moving to, offering you access to many Southern California staples. From the Hollywood Sports Paintball & Airsoft Park to The Los Angeles County Fire Museum, you’ll be close to what makes Bellflower unique.
#5: Pico Rivera, CA
Median home price: $737,500
Driving distance from Los Angeles: 20 minutes
Pico Rivera, CA homes for sale
20 minutes southeast of downtown Los Angeles is the suburb of Pico Rivera. With a population of close to 62,000, you’ll be in a smaller town while being able to explore Los Angeles in your free time. If you find yourself moving to our fifth most affordable suburb, make sure to visit Pico Rivera Sports Arena for their yearly Colombian festival, El Festival Colombiano.
#6: Whittier, CA
Median home price: $756,000
Driving distance from Los Angeles: 30 minutes
Whittier, CA homes for sale
Only slightly more expensive than Pico Rivers, Whittier is Los Angeles’s sixth most affordable suburb on our list. With roughly 87,300 residents living in Whittier, you can enjoy hiking at Pio Pico State Historic Park with fewer crowds than Los Angeles’ Runyon Canyon. And don’t miss checking out the iconic Whittier Boulevard.
#7: Downey, CA
Median home price: $830,000
Driving distance from Los Angeles: 25 minutes
Downey, CA homes for sale
Claiming the seventh spot on our list of affordable Los Angeles suburbs is Downey. About 25 minutes away from downtown L.A. – without the infamous traffic – and home to nearly 115,000 people, so consider adding Downey to your list of suburbs to do some of your house hunting. If you end up calling this affordable suburb “home,” plan time to explore Columbia Memorial Space Center and have a picnic at Wilderness Park.
#8: Alhambra, CA
Median home price: $803,000
Driving distance from Los Angeles: 20 minutes
Alhambra, CA homes for sale
If you’ve been living in Los Angeles for some time, you’ve probably heard about people moving to the suburb of Alhambra. This affordable city is home to just around 83,000 residents, so you’ll be living in a suburb with significantly fewer residents than Los Angeles while remaining close to all the city has to offer. Once moving to Alhambra head for a jog at Almansor Park and pick up some fresh produce at the Alhambra Farmers Market.
#9: Lakewood, CA
Median home price: $815,000
Driving distance from Los Angeles: 30 minutes
Lakewood, CA homes for sale
Lakewood, California is a great place to consider moving to that will get you access to downtown Los Angeles in roughly 30 minutes. About 83,000 people live in this affordable suburb, but you’ll be surrounded by several areas to explore in your free time. Attractions in Lakewood include exploring Del Valle Park, playing 18 holes at Lakewood Golf Course, and biking through Rynerson Park.
#10: Monterey Park, CA
Median home price: $895,000
Driving distance from Los Angeles: 15 minutes
Monterey Park, CA homes for sale
Monterey Park takes the final spot on our list of affordable Los Angeles suburbs you’ll want to consider moving to. Without traffic, you’ll find yourself in Los Angeles in roughly 15 minutes. This suburb has a population of roughly 61,100, making it a mere fraction of Los Angeles’ population. Home to the Vincent Price Art Museum where you can see artwork from West Mexico and Peru, along with many others, and Sequoia Park which features a Japanese Garden and tennis courts, you’ll have plenty of activities to explore during your free time.
Methodology:
Affordability based on whether a suburb is less than the median sale price of Los Angeles and under a 30 minute drive from downtown Los Angeles.
Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during March 2022.
Population data sourced from United States Census Bureau
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