You can map the distance to public transportation or groceries, read school ratings and crime statistics, or consider any number of “livability” rankings, but your mileage with these sources may vary when it comes to assessing a community according to your own needs and values. We asked five households of different compositions and socioeconomic circumstances what their considerations were when they chose a new place to call home.

Because asking someone in rural Alaska and someone in downtown Miami would yield wildly different results, we decided to interview people who had recently moved within the Los Angeles County area and its wide array of distinct neighborhoods. We spoke with a newlywed couple renting an apartment, twin sisters who’d just purchased a condo, a new owner of a midsize townhouse, a couple renting in an active adult community, and a family in a three-story single-family house. Their neighborhoods stretch from those close to downtown to the farthest-flung reaches of suburbia.

This is far from a scientific study. It’s five households. Five sets of values. One county. But we did find that a few considerations stood out above others: proximity to family, number of neighbors, one’s particular stomach for a commute, and access to varied kinds of fun. All these things can’t be fully gleaned from livability indexes, but they’re of great importance when you find them.

Diana Audish | Northridge Townhouse

Looking for proximity to family and density—but not too much

After rejected offers on nearly 20 homes, Diana Audish, a sales manager, finally bought exactly what she wanted: a suburban townhouse in Northridge—almost turnkey, three bedrooms, with a small backyard for her dog. She had been living in a house she had bought with her sister and brother-in-law nearby, but when the pandemic struck, three people were working during the day there, and her sister and brother-in-law were growing their family, so Diana decided it was time to find a place of her own.

“I wanted to have my own space, with an office where I could sit and focus on my work versus having to be in my room on my bed on my laptop,” Diana says. Location was key—she wanted to stay close to her sister and their parents, whose house had been only a few minutes’ walk away.

Diana also knew what she didn’t want: the responsibility of a big house or a major renovation, or being surrounded by tons of noisy neighbors she doesn’t know. “I used to live in an apartment complex that had hundreds of units, and there was always something going on,” Diana explains. “When I’m working from home, I want to be somewhere a little quieter.”

Her new home is one of a collection of duplexes in a development of just under 30 units, giving Diana the close-knit feel she desires. “The thing about being smaller is we all kind of look out for each other,” Diana says, “so it’s nice.”

Alexis and Amanda Garcia | North Hollywood Condominium

Looking for an investment not too far from work and friends

Alexis and Amanda Garcia were climbing the ranks in their respective fields—Alexis in architecture and Amanda in behavioral analysis—when they decided to move out of their childhood home and buy a condo. Each eventually wants their own home, but neither can afford one alone yet.

With investment in mind, the twins sought neighborhoods that both appealed to them now and were also likely to attract new residents in the future. “You want to think about what the area is going to look like in five or six years,” Alexis explains. “How much equity is it going to bring to the property?”

They also wanted to stay in the San Fernando Valley, hoping to preserve the same relaxed feeling they’d known growing up, but with a more diverse mix of people and cultures than in their parents’ suburban neighborhood. The duo found what they wanted in a two-bedroom in North Hollywood, located much closer to Alexis’s downtown office and central for Amanda, whose work takes her all over the Valley.

“When we saw this property, we noticed a lot of people walking their dogs, kids in strollers, and people going on runs,” says Amanda. “That made us feel safe. If we wanted to go out for a walk, we’d be fine.” Her sister agrees, adding, “People judge neighborhoods based on telephone lines hanging or cracks in the asphalt, but they’re missing out.”

Danny Olmos and Negar Mizani | Echo Park House

Looking for a multigenerational home in a diverse urban setting close to art and culture

Danny Olmos and Negar Mizani wanted to leave suburban Pasadena and move closer to downtown L.A. for its arts and culture as well as its more diverse demographic. With a young daughter, and Negar’s mother in the house to help out, they also needed more space. Plus, it was taking Negar up to an hour and a half to commute to her vice principal job in South Central L.A. “I would find myself getting to work angry, coming home angry,” she says of the long drives.

The family found a three-story home in the Silver Lake/Echo Park area that met their criteria. Negar is now closer to work, the entire family has better access to urban activities, and the house itself gives them greater flexibility. With a roof deck and bedrooms on a separate level from the main living area, they have room to spread out.

Their particular part of the neighborhood may get low marks in some rankings because of the number of people without homes living there, but it’s not an issue for the couple. “We’re always talking about what we can do and what our role is in this community,” Negar says. And as parents, neither Danny—also an educator—nor Negar wants to shield their daughter from the hardships of life. “I’d rather my child see it, for me to have an honest conversation with her, and for her to understand her privileges,” Negar says. “The fight for justice is not over, and these people need support.”

Joseph and Kristina Rostomian | Woodland Hills Apartment

Looking for affordability close to necessities and restaurants

Newlyweds Joseph and Kristina Rostomian wanted a rental property that would be a stepping stone to owning a home within a couple of years—which meant it had to be affordable. They wanted to be in a neighborhood where most of what they needed was within walking distance or a short drive away. Soon after their engagement, the couple began their search, hoping to find a home before their wedding.

In Woodland Hills, a neighborhood in the southwest corner of the San Fernando Valley, a recently upgraded one-bedroom apartment checked all their boxes—a top one being a washer and dryer in the unit. And with Kristina starting an internship in social work an hour-plus drive north, in Lancaster, and Joseph working in sales in Pasadena, it felt like a good midpoint. Joseph also highlighted “the convenience of having the mall two minutes away. Costco, Target, the pharmacy—anything we need on a regular basis we have within reach.”

Though the apartment complex is on a busy street, their unit is toward the back, offering a sense of privacy and quiet. But the couple also like the area’s overall liveliness, especially its date-night potential. “There are so many diverse restaurants around here,” says Joseph. “And a lot of these places are within walking distance. We can go out, grab a bite, and get in a little calorie-burning on our way back home.”

Mark and Dawna Ellis | Valencia House

Looking for outdoor living but with amenities and neighbors

Six months in a guesthouse on a ranch in Sand Canyon was enough to dissuade Dawna and Mark Ellis that country living would be fun. It was so backwoods that friends who bothered had trouble finding them, their home was too small to properly host visiting family, and everything—restaurants, the doctor—was at least 30 minutes away. But mostly they missed a sense of community.

Enter Belcaro, a gated active adult (55 and older) development in nearby(ish) Valencia, a suburban neighborhood about 40 miles north of downtown L.A.—and best of all for Dawna, “closer to my grandbaby.” Belcaro’s lively community sealed the deal. Still, they decided to proceed slowly—renting not buying—while they try it out. So far, they love it.

With a gym, a big outdoor pool, and courts to play tennis, basketball, even bocce, there’s ample opportunity for socializing while staying healthy. There are also miles of walk/bike paths for time alone in nature. “I do like that the neighbors are friendly, but I only want to talk when I’m in the mood,” says Dawna, who’s enjoying the walk paths and thinking of tennis lessons.

Mark appreciates the gated community’s security, but his biggest joy is connecting with people. “Especially as we’re getting older,” he says, “it’s really important that wherever we are, we’re not just in another neighborhood where everybody parks in the garage and you don’t ever see anybody.”

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