Los Angeles is a vibrant city with something for everyone. But for people who don’t like the hustle and bustle of big-city living, life in California’s largest city can be a bit overwhelming. Want the best parts of living in Los Angeles without the added expenses, the traffic, and the crime? Then you’re probably in search of Los Angeles’s best suburbs.
Los Angeles is famous for producing the world’s best movies in Hollywood, having some of the best beaches on the West Coast, and enjoying, statistically, some of the the most pleasant weather in America. It’s also where you’ll find the highest concentration of celebrities nationwide, and you’re quite likely to spot on in the flesh if you spend enough time shopping at The Grove or attending events at the Staples Center. And as far as food goes, Los Angeles’s diversity has ensured that the city has the best cuisine in every category, from Thai food to taco trucks.
Where can you find the nicest suburbs that Los Angeles has to offer? We’re talking about the suburbs where unemployment, poverty, and crime are low, incomes and home prices are high, and there’s plenty to keep you entertained without necessitating a trip to the big city. Well, 60% of this list’s members are situated in the coastal South Bay region to the southwest of Los Angeles. Places like Palos Verdes Estates, where crime and unemployment are super low, are emblematic of the best of this area. But there’s still great suburbs elsewhere, like the surfer’s paradise of Malibu, west of L.A. That’s if you’ve got around two million bucks to drop on a home and are okay with a cost of living that outstrips the national average by 300%. And that’s not to single out Malibu as the only pricey spot on this list; in fact, the only suburb featured here with a median income under six figures is South Pasadena.
So get ready to don your Dodgers cap, order up a food truck taco, and send your headshots to every agent in the business, because we’re taking a closer look at the best Los Angeles suburbs to live in for 2026.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 best suburbs to live around Los Angeles for 2026:
That wraps up our tour of the best Los Angeles suburbs to live in. These are the places where crime is low, the economy works for everyone, and you can find plenty to do without submitting yourself to the hellish Los Angeles traffic. If you’re on the fence about whether to move to L.A. or just one of its satellite cities, be sure to check out the best neighborhoods in Los Angeles so that you can weigh your options.
You’re bound to have a good experience if you end up in any of the suburbs listed above, but only one spot can take the gold medal. So what is the best Los Angeles suburb to call home? According to the data, Manhattan Beach is the best Los Angeles suburb for 2026.
Shocked to find that your favorite Los Angeles suburb didn’t feature on our list? Take a look at the comprehensive list of Los Angeles suburbs below to see how your town or city fared.
Feel free to check out some more reading about California:
The 10 Best Los Angeles Suburbs To Live For 2026
/10
Population: 34,210
Median Income: $204,306
Unemployment Rate: 3.8%
Poverty Rate: 4.5%
More on Manhattan Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Manhattan Beach is always mentioned as one of the best suburbs in the Los Angeles area. We’ll tell you the good about “Awesome Manhattan Beach.”
Everyone here is rich; families average $204,306 a year, which is the 4th highest in the Los Angeles region. And only 3.81% are out of work. Homes average more than $3,227,202 each.
/10
Population: 19,063
Median Income: $166,442
Unemployment Rate: 5.4%
Poverty Rate: 5.6%
More on Hermosa Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Hermosa Beach is the second best ‘burb we looked at near Los Angeles for 2026.
It ranks 10th for incomes in the area and only 1.96% of residents lack insurance, good for 7th best.
/10
Population: 12,925
Median Income: $242,014
Unemployment Rate: 4.7%
Poverty Rate: 2.9%
More on Palos Verdes Estates: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Here in Palos Verdes Estates, it’s really safe, and residents are just about as rich as you’ll see in the Los Angeles metro area.
The bad side? Schools are more crowded, and the cost of living puts a large part of the city out of reach for most families.
But price is based on demand and a lot of people want to live in Palos Verdes Estates.
4. Hidden Hills, CA
/10
Population: 2,150
Median Income: $250,001
Unemployment Rate: 2.5%
Poverty Rate: 9.5%
More on Hidden Hills: Movers
Hidden Hills ranks as the 4th best suburb of Los Angeles for 2026.
You won’t find many better places to raise your kids in the region than in Hidden Hills and the schools are some of the best around.
/10
Population: 40,864
Median Income: $179,623
Unemployment Rate: 5.5%
Poverty Rate: 4.2%
More on Rancho Palos Verdes: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Coming in as the fifth best is Rancho Palos Verdes.
Rancho Palos Verdes gets kudos for having the 9th most expensive homes in the Los Angeles area, where houses sell for an average of $1,824,947. However, the cost of living here is among the highest in the area.
/10
Population: 69,291
Median Income: $150,245
Unemployment Rate: 5.5%
Poverty Rate: 5.4%
More on Redondo Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Redondo Beach is proud of its 6th place finish on this list. And here’s why.
Most residents have great jobs and the unemployment rate sits at 5.5%.
According to online reports, Redondo Beach is quickly becoming one of the more affluent suburbs in the Los Angeles area, meaning you need to get in soon.
/10
Population: 26,068
Median Income: $127,175
Unemployment Rate: 5.1%
Poverty Rate: 4.9%
More on South Pasadena: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The 7th best suburb on our list goes to South Pasadena.
South Pasadena schools are some of the best in the region, and crime is really low. The cost of living makes it a lot more desirable for many families, especially first-time home buyers.
And, it’s only 15.8 miles to downtown, which is a good thing.
/10
Population: 10,940
Median Income: $143,547
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%
Poverty Rate: 4.6%
More on Sierra Madre: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Sierra Madre is growing quickly, and for a good reason. Crime is far below average, and most residents are gainfully employed. Even the cost of living is reasonable.
A solid 3.34% of people lack insurance, good for 15th in the area.
/10
Population: 15,272
Median Income: $117,989
Unemployment Rate: 3.9%
Poverty Rate: 5.0%
More on La Palma: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Is ‘Everything Better In La Palma?’
Almost.
It placed 9th on our list thanks to the fact that it’s really expensive to live here, but the schools are great, so you get what you pay for in that regard.
/10
Population: 12,216
Median Income: $214,167
Unemployment Rate: 5.3%
Poverty Rate: 6.7%
More on San Marino: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
And rounding out the top ten for 2026 is San Marino.
This city is far above average in every category, and the best part? It’s far more affordable than the other cities listed above. So, you get a big bang for your buck here.
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Suburbs Around Los Angeles for 2026
Figuring out the best suburbs around Los Angeles was simple. We used Saturday Night Science to find things people like about living in the suburbs and then locate the suburbs with those things.
We analyzed the newest American Community Survey data for 2020-2024 to research each suburb. We decided upon the following criteria:
- Low unemployment rate
- High median household incomes
- Population density (lots of things to do)
- High home values
- A lot of college-educated people
- Low poverty
- High rate of insured families
We defined a suburb as being within 30 miles of Los Angeles.
Additionally, we limited the analysis to places that have over 2,000 people. This left us with a grand total of 78 suburbs to evaluate around Los Angeles.
We ranked each place with scores from 1 to 78 in each category, where 1 was the “best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each place to create a quality-of-life index.
Finally, we crowned the city with the best quality of life index, the “Best Suburb near Los Angeles.” We’re lookin’ at you, Manhattan Beach.
This result may differ from our state-wide data as we did not include commute times and crime for this analysis to allow for a more extensive selection of suburbs.
We updated the data for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the best Los Angeles suburbs. Skip to the end to see the list of all the suburbs ranked from best to worst.
Summary: Welcome to the Best Los Angeles ‘Burbs of 2026
We said it once, and we’ll say it again–life in the big city isn’t for everyone. At least not all the time.
The best suburbs of Los Angeles are .
So if you’re craving the amenities of a larger city like Los Angeles but don’t want to deal with the drawbacks, one of these suburbs might be for you.
For more California reading, check out:
Table: Best Los Angeles Suburbs
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manhattan Beach, CA | 34,210 | $204,306 | $3,227,202 |
| 2 | Hermosa Beach, CA | 19,063 | $166,442 | $2,245,351 |
| 3 | Palos Verdes Estates, CA | 12,925 | $242,014 | $2,763,820 |
| 4 | Hidden Hills, CA | 2,150 | $250,001 | $5,059,062 |
| 5 | Rancho Palos Verdes, CA | 40,864 | $179,623 | $1,824,947 |
| 6 | Redondo Beach, CA | 69,291 | $150,245 | $1,500,192 |
| 7 | South Pasadena, CA | 26,068 | $127,175 | $1,692,677 |
| 8 | Sierra Madre, CA | 10,940 | $143,547 | $1,437,492 |
| 9 | La Palma, CA | 15,272 | $117,989 | $1,203,549 |
| 10 | San Marino, CA | 12,216 | $214,167 | $2,837,216 |
| 11 | Agoura Hills, CA | 19,721 | $171,302 | $1,259,726 |
| 12 | El Segundo, CA | 16,769 | $150,737 | $1,759,407 |
| 13 | Rolling Hills Estates, CA | 8,131 | $191,895 | $1,901,413 |
| 14 | La Habra Heights, CA | 5,478 | $179,583 | $1,399,870 |
| 15 | Cerritos, CA | 47,867 | $135,439 | $1,094,900 |
| 16 | La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | $109,288 | $887,478 |
| 17 | Cypress, CA | 49,498 | $130,215 | $1,085,691 |
| 18 | Santa Monica, CA | 91,169 | $114,885 | $1,703,947 |
| 19 | Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | $119,177 | $882,501 |
| 20 | Torrance, CA | 142,130 | $116,217 | $1,124,931 |
| 21 | Arcadia, CA | 55,170 | $113,516 | $1,414,450 |
| 22 | Malibu, CA | 10,421 | $194,421 | $3,142,247 |
| 23 | Beverly Hills, CA | 31,624 | $132,977 | $3,662,756 |
| 24 | Calabasas, CA | 22,669 | $165,288 | $1,722,904 |
| 25 | Simi Valley, CA | 125,634 | $122,081 | $844,909 |
| 26 | Thousand Oaks, CA | 125,205 | $135,603 | $1,049,633 |
| 27 | Seal Beach, CA | 24,722 | $85,964 | $848,898 |
| 28 | West Hollywood, CA | 34,884 | $96,995 | $1,019,551 |
| 29 | Santa Clarita, CA | 230,221 | $123,062 | $802,016 |
| 30 | Alhambra, CA | 81,022 | $88,024 | $937,892 |
| 31 | Buena Park, CA | 82,871 | $110,550 | $940,506 |
| 32 | Lomita, CA | 20,225 | $93,810 | $921,950 |
| 33 | San Gabriel, CA | 38,392 | $90,488 | $1,121,300 |
| 34 | Signal Hill, CA | 11,468 | $113,298 | $708,078 |
| 35 | Monrovia, CA | 37,571 | $96,021 | $992,558 |
| 36 | Pasadena, CA | 136,969 | $105,192 | $1,209,228 |
| 37 | Whittier, CA | 86,165 | $97,201 | $821,843 |
| 38 | Duarte, CA | 22,184 | $105,483 | $801,444 |
| 39 | Downey, CA | 110,939 | $90,699 | $888,710 |
| 40 | Fullerton, CA | 140,968 | $104,286 | $1,050,944 |
| 41 | La Habra, CA | 61,970 | $100,106 | $911,595 |
| 42 | West Covina, CA | 107,037 | $101,065 | $852,372 |
| 43 | Los Alamitos, CA | 11,794 | $97,155 | $1,583,957 |
| 44 | Monterey Park, CA | 59,132 | $81,855 | $934,098 |
| 45 | Norwalk, CA | 99,789 | $100,085 | $763,282 |
| 46 | Glendale, CA | 190,748 | $88,393 | $1,201,879 |
| 47 | Temple, CA | 5,901 | $91,180 | $284,500 |
| 48 | Carson, CA | 92,871 | $108,703 | $799,421 |
| 49 | Pico Rivera, CA | 60,272 | $88,201 | $753,243 |
| 50 | Artesia, CA | 15,889 | $101,004 | $878,198 |
| 51 | Gardena, CA | 59,422 | $84,803 | $792,921 |
| 52 | Westlake, CA | 4,743 | $68,381 | $174,865 |
| 53 | Santa Fe Springs, CA | 18,871 | $88,238 | $783,369 |
| 54 | Long Beach, CA | 455,548 | $87,430 | $857,860 |
| 55 | Rosemead, CA | 50,013 | $73,566 | $913,339 |
| 56 | Bellflower, CA | 76,819 | $78,722 | $801,999 |
| 57 | La Puente, CA | 37,142 | $86,602 | $723,134 |
| 58 | San Fernando, CA | 23,632 | $83,024 | $753,549 |
| 59 | Stanton, CA | 39,402 | $84,707 | $793,737 |
| 60 | Hawthorne, CA | 85,191 | $75,848 | $883,585 |
| 61 | Hawaiian Gardens, CA | 13,691 | $76,341 | $647,288 |
| 62 | Baldwin Park, CA | 70,138 | $80,663 | $722,511 |
| 63 | Lawndale, CA | 30,781 | $85,441 | $777,393 |
| 64 | Montebello, CA | 61,045 | $79,971 | $827,434 |
| 65 | Azusa, CA | 49,031 | $90,721 | $715,154 |
| 66 | Paramount, CA | 52,050 | $75,250 | $648,286 |
| 67 | Inglewood, CA | 104,569 | $72,750 | $763,567 |
| 68 | El Monte, CA | 106,109 | $68,030 | $765,444 |
| 69 | Commerce, CA | 11,993 | $77,064 | $696,479 |
| 70 | South Gate, CA | 91,483 | $74,571 | $700,783 |
| 71 | Bell Gardens, CA | 38,229 | $62,298 | $690,423 |
| 72 | Bell, CA | 32,476 | $61,020 | $688,069 |
| 73 | Lynwood, CA | 64,578 | $74,844 | $688,935 |
| 74 | Compton, CA | 92,698 | $78,465 | $637,960 |
| 75 | Maywood, CA | 24,317 | $60,943 | $652,495 |
| 76 | Huntington Park, CA | 53,108 | $59,996 | $675,536 |
| 77 | South El Monte, CA | 19,287 | $72,990 | $762,159 |
| 78 | Cudahy, CA | 22,087 | $56,615 | $680,366 |
