7 Best Middle Class Neighborhoods in Los Angeles to Live in 2023

We looked through all the latest data and reviews to find the best middle class neighborhoods in Los Angeles that are affordable, safe, and offer things to do.

It was not easy to identify many cheap areas in Los Angeles to live in that are also packed with amenities and have relatively low crime rates, but we managed to find some hidden gems that may suit your needs.

Overall, Los Angeles is a great place to live if you find the right neighborhood to settle into. There is no other place in the world that offers such a huge variety of entertainment and quality of life.

But, all of this comes at a cost and the middle class is slowly being priced out of many communities.

Still, our evaluation was able to uncover some of the best middle class neighborhoods in Los Angeles to live in 2023.

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Best Middle Class Neighborhoods in Los Angeles to Live In – Methodology

Before we reveal our choices for the best middle class neighborhoods in Los Angeles to live in, we need to define what we mean by “middle class” and what other parameters we considered to develop the choices on this list.

The definition of middle class can be pretty subjective since it is relative to the specific location. For the Los Angeles area, various newspapers and research databases have come to the conclusion that an average middle class family earns about $50,000 to $150,000 per year.

Therefore, we used the median home price as our gauge of how to consider a neighborhood middle class or not. We looked for places with a maximum average home value of about $1 million to fit this criteria.

Additionally, we considered several other metrics to determine what would be a good neighborhood to live in Los Angeles. These include:

Entertainment and things to do
Distance to major attractions
Crime rate
Quality of schools

To measure the crime rate of each neighborhood, we referred to AreaVibes’ database that originates from the FBI’s latest findings.

We also looked for cities that were large enough to feel like their own community, so we only included places that have at least 30,000 residents or more.

With all of these filters in mind, let’s take a look at the best middle class neighborhoods in Los Angeles to live in so that you can find a great area in one of California’s most sought-after cities to live.

The 7 Best Middle Class Neighborhoods in Los Angeles to Live in 2023

7. Long Beach

Population: 466,742
Cost of Living Index: 8% Lower Than Los Angeles Average
Median Home Price: $741,000
Crime Rate: 26% Above Los Angeles Average
Location: Check on Google Maps

Long Beach is located just 20 minutes south of downtown Los Angeles and sits right on the Pacific Ocean. It is also the 7th largest city in all of California.

The city is full of parks and things to do, including the famous Long Beach City Beach and the Long Beach Museum of Art.

Downtown Long Beach is also undergoing a dramatic revitalization right now, with over 4,000 new housing units expected to be developed. This increase in the housing supply is great news for middle class families in the area.

6. Montecito Heights

Population: 33,281
Cost of Living Index: 8% Lower Than Los Angeles Average
Median Home Price: $700,000
Crime Rate: 24% Below Los Angeles Average
Location: Check on Google Maps

Montecito Heights is situated just 10 minutes away from downtown Los Angeles and is a family-friendly community that is also ideal for nature lovers.

Residents here enjoy spending time in the sprawling 300+ acre Ernest E. Debs Regional Park. This nature preserve offers miles and miles of hiking and biking trails along with places to barbecue and picnic. It also features some of the best views of Los Angeles.

5. Lancaster

Population: 159,028
Cost of Living Index: 20% Lower Than Los Angeles Average
Median Home Price: $385,000
Crime Rate: 4% Below Los Angeles Average
Location: Check on Google Maps

Lancaster, California is a bit further out there than most of the other places on this list, as it is an hour away from Los Angeles.

But, it is also one of the most affordable places as well, making it one of the best middle class neighborhoods in Los Angeles for families on a budget.

This small city offers a great blend of affordability, safety, and proximity to Los Angeles. Downtown Lancaster is also undergoing a revitalization that will help modernize its mix of historic buildings with new, community-based amenities.

4. Santa Clarita

Population: 228,673
Cost of Living Index: 3% Higher Than Los Angeles Average
Median Home Price: $684,000
Crime Rate: 60% Below Los Angeles Average
Location: Check on Google Maps

Santa Clarita is about 30 minutes north of Los Angeles and is a quiet community that is nestled in the foothills and sits on the Santa Clara River.

It is also home to the Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park, which is great for the whole family to enjoy.

Meanwhile, residents rave about the strong sense of community that has been built in Santa Clarita. It is also ranked as the 13th safest city in the whole US among cities with 150,000 residents or more.

3. Palmdale

Population: 155,079
Cost of Living Index: 17% Lower Than Los Angeles Average
Median Home Price: $420,000
Crime Rate: 28% Below Los Angeles Average
Location: Check on Google Maps

Palmdale is a neighbor to Lancaster, so it isn’t really in the heart of Los Angeles either. It also takes about an hour to reach downtown, but that may actually be a benefit for those looking for a bit more of a quiet life.

Palmdale is a bit safer than Lancaster as well and still offers affordable housing options. There are still plenty of 3 and 4 bedroom houses available for under $400,000 around the city.

2. Eagle Rock

Population: 34,644
Cost of Living Index: 1% Higher Than Los Angeles Average
Median Home Price: $1.1 million
Crime Rate: 36% Below Los Angeles Average
Location: Check on Google Maps

Eagle Rock may have a reputation as being a haven for hipsters, but it is maturing into a great place for families as well.

It may cost more to live in Eagle Rock, as home prices have recently surged above $1 million for the first time, but it still remains one of the best middle class neighborhoods in Los Angeles for families who want to be no more than 10 minutes away from downtown.

This laid-back community is also known for being quite safe, with crime rates that are over 30% lower than the rest of Los Angeles.

1. Simi Valley

Population: 126,356
Cost of Living Index: 1% Higher Than Los Angeles Average
Median Home Price: $737,000
Crime Rate: 54% Below Los Angeles Average
Location: Check on Google Maps

Simi Valley captures the top spot on this list as the best middle class neighborhood in Los Angeles to live in 2023. This Los Angeles suburb is located about 40 minutes away from downtown and features its own tight-knit community with plenty of amenities.

The city offers tons of restaurants and several commercial districts as well. Nature lovers can also take advantage of the easy access to numerous parks in the area, such as Santa Susana Mountains and the Simi Hills.

Meanwhile, Simi Valley is also very safe, ranking as one of the top 20 safest cities in all of California, while also boasting an excellent public school system.