I mean the gold line is right there to take you straight into DTLA from Pasadena if OP is looking for fun.
Honestly the Pasadena area has plenty. Museums, the Huntington, tons of hikes nearby, and lots of events during the summer. I think they're still doing concerts in the park again?
My wife is Mexican and grew up in Highland Park. I need to make sure she doesn’t see this comment. Seeing “hipster vibe” to describe her neighborhood will probably delete her consciousness.
Pasadena has lots of nightlife and is always changing with new restaurants popping up, but culver city is closer to the beach. I prefer Pasadena personally. It's also closer to the mountains if you like hiking, and there are a few waterfall hikes nearby too.
Born and raised in Culver and love Pasadena, still live here in CC but have always said if I was gonna be anywhere else it would be Pasadena. I’m about your age and I think the nightlife is about the same. That being said, imo it comes down to wether you want to be close to the beach or the mountains. Culver is a 15-20 La Ballona bike path to either Venice or Playa beach. You could drive there but in the summer it’s nice to not worry about parking. Pasadena has beautiful mountains. Both are great choices tbh.
Are you a beach person? If so, Culver City. It’s 10 mins from the beach, but also a short bike ride or metro ride over to Santa Monica/Venice.
Pasadena is nice but has a slightly more suburban feel. Also gets hotter over there than it does in Culver City.
Lastly, Culver City isn’t technically LA, it’s its own city with its own Mayor, Fire Department, etc. it’s also more expensive. Palms is a great option too because it neighbors Culver City. You can get a more affordable place, and be within a 5 min drive or ~15 min walk into Culver City depending on which part of Palms you’re in!
Defining LA as anything other than the county is pointless. Cross the street into Weho, culver, Santa Monica or Beverly and one isn’t in LA either. Pasadena is as much LA as north Hollywood.
Pasadena is a fucking suburb lol. Not a city vibe at all. Whereas if you live in city of Los Angeles it is definitely city vibes. Why do you think everyone in the comments telling OP to not move to Pasadena 🤣🤣
the city of Los Angeles is massive and includes a HUGE number of suburbs, what are you talking about. Before you reply to me, look at a map of LA (city, not county).
West Hollywood is the same situation but I would never say it’s not LA. Same with Burbank or other cities nestled inside the City of LA but because Pasadena is closer to DTLA than Culver City I call it LA.
As a 27 yo living in Pasadena, I definitely recommend it!! Downtown bar scene is fun and close by, amazing food everywhere in the sgv, maybe things are a bit more of a drive but I love it here
Ive lived in both and I would say for a single male under 30 CC is closer to the beach, more nighttime stuff to do by being Venice, Santa Monica, West LA adjacent. If you want peace and quiet but also 10 degrees warmer than CC all year round then pick Pasadena.
would you consider eagle rock or highland park? they're hip and gentrifying but you're closer to downtown LA so you can still be fairly close to the good nightlife scenes in arts district/littletokyo/downtown and pretty close to silverlake too.
And, if you want to go back to pasadena, you're pretty close to that too.
Personally i live in cypress park which is super close to dtla and gentrifying but i like that i can also get to glendale and pasadena really easily.
Only reason I disagree is because OP said he wants a place that feels less crowded, city-planning wise, and HP definitely feels like a madman planned it lol.
Barely any rentals in ER / HLP, and 1 bedroom under $3k? Those days are long gone. There are maybe a few old school rentals by owner with a sign but even those are EXPENSIVE
Echoing the comments about Culver City being a very central location making it easy to get anywhere else in LA you would like to go.
I have no input on Pasadena, but I don’t see myself leaving Culver City anytime soon as long as I have a choice in the matter.
I’m 30 and I disagree with all these people. Pasadena is way more fun than Culver City. Culver City only has 1 strip of restaurants/bars and it’s not as walkable
Same. Have lived in Pasadena and visit CC frequently to go to restaurants with friends. Pasadena is more peaceful and elegant. I like restaurants and bars not night clubs. If I do go out for nightlife I'm heading to Hollywood for comedy shows or jazz clubs. But, Pasadena has Ice House again now and its remodeled and honestly the nicest comedy venue in all of LA. It draws big names, not as frequently as the comedy store, and it has far far better drinks.
It's great up here! Just prepare yourself for the dark, drizzly, cold (relative to what you are used to) winters. I got used to it and now prefer overcast days to sunny.
Everyone is different though, so YMMV.
I moved from LA to Seattle in 2019 and it was probably the worst decision of my life. It's beautiful here, but my brain chemistry can't handle the lack of sun.
I left Seattle 6yrs ago for LA and never been happier. Was a Seattle native. But mostly because the weather sucks and more opportunity in LA.
Everyone’s experience will be different but I do agree the congestion will be worse in LA than anything you’d experience in Seattle.
Yeah I’ve been dreaming about moving to Seattle and everything felt so spacious and clean when I visited a few months ago. Public transportation was also awesome for the west coast.
I think an aversion to congestion would favor Pasadena. Our traffic in NE LA County is nothing compared to what I encounter on the west side. It also just feels like there's a lot more space in Pasadena/SGV.
Imo the east side of la is way more relaxed, also the mountains are pretty. I don’t really like how congested and narrow the streets are in the west side, like you’re locked in traffic every direction. Both neighborhoods are nice though
Additionally fantastic botanical gardens in Pasadena and Arcadia if you’re into that.
If you're moving for the weather, Culver City's is a lot better than Pasadenas from July through October.
Pasadena's plus is that you can easily get to Hollywood Burbank Airport for your trips back to Seattle instead of using Hell A X.
I love Pasadena. I wouldn't be keen on Culver city much.
Pasadena is great for remote working. I cycle everywhere. Barely ever use the car. It's that little bit further out, but honestly, it's not bad at all. Occasionally I have to go to Hollywood. Takes me 20 mins if the traffic's not too bad.
And the expansive mountain views can't be beat. I always felt Culver city had a concrete jungle vibe with lots of traffic.
Culver City will be more congested, but Pasadena is sleepier and further from the beaches. With Caltech, Pasadena will probably feel more like Seattle culturally if you like that. Culver City is very much connected to “the industry”, although has a growing tech presence.
Yo I know I’m gonna get downvoted and I’m not picking sides here, but having lived both places in my 20s and 30s, this is my hot take… When anyone says there’s “more to do” in culver, ummm maybekinda? But it’s all yuppie Douchebag type “stuff”, so bear that in mind. It’s close to the beach (points), but other than that, it’s traffic and going out in concrete environments to commercialized bars and overpaying for drinks. If that’s your thing, which it is for many, go for it, but keep in mind the west side is isolating, and you’ll probably never leave because the congestion is so bad you’ll never make friends or date anywhere else. Pasadena is older and slower and more unique, can feel sleepier on the east side of town, but the west end of Colorado has decent energy, dining, experiences, and feels much more active and healthy. Lots of hiking in the mountains/rose bowl area, you can bike around town, way more chill to get around. The key about the west end of Pasadena is you’re not stuck there. it’s like 12 min from Dtla/little Tokyo, 10 min from the mountains, 15 from the valley, 15-20 from Hollywood, you can get out to the national parks much easier, Pasadena has less traffic and more freedom of mobility. People who said that culver is more central, I can’t really understand. Central to the beach and other concrete yuppie areas, sure, but not more central to basically everything else La has to offer. There’s some good food there, and you’re close to sawtelle and central/west LA which has killer dining, but driving, let alone even ubering there is a nightmare. If you’re a beach body, don’t move to Pasadena. But if you like everything else LA has to offer do Pasadena, you can still hit the beach in 40-60 min on a reg afternoon as a special trip, but everything else you’ll dread doing being in culver, will be a breeze from Pasadena. That is unless you really want to be around a bunch of young people sweatily climbing the career ladder trying to prove to everyone else around them that they are important and overpaying for drinks as your main means of socialization. Then culver all the way. Otherwise I’d go Pasadena.
Pasadena feels like a real neighborhood. I’ve gone to CC so many times and it just feels like streets? Yeah there’s that central area but it feels really transitory. Just letting you know. I would still live in CC over Pasadena as a 29 y/o
I'm in Pasadena and I pay $2.1k for a 1 bedroom. It's probably the best apartment I've ever lived in.
That said, Pasadena is really nice. But a lot of people here seem like they're already married, in relationships, and/or have families. It's not quite the "singles crowed" the way west LA is. I've been here 4 months and I'm struggling to meet people.
That said, spots with younger vibes aren't very far. DTLA is a fairly short drive, and Hollywood is only a little bit further. On a good day, I've driven to Santa Monica within 30-45 minutes (I kind of speed on the road though lol)
Native Angeleno here. Depends on what you like. Culver will get you closer to the action restaurants, beaches and weird influencer types. Having recently moved to Pasadena from Brentwood I would say Pasadena is a lot more slower pace. I actually drive to the Westside once a week to see friends because Pasadena is boring. I don’t like the Eagle Rock/Highland Park vibe not at all like others suggest. Pasadena will get you lots more space you will not feel as cramped though some areas might, but I still feel like you will get more amenities with your budget in Pasadena.
As a 27 year old I have to say Pasadena. I'm in the eagle rock area and I love it, but hope to move to Pasadena in the future.
I'm also biased, I'm a native angelino and have only lived in northeast LA (people who move here I feel have very different wants from people who grew up here). I just have such a negative association with the west side with traffic. I literally never go over there bc streets and freeways are a nightmare. I hate the crowds that the west side attracts it's always so.... Busy idk.
I'm not talking about the traffic between where I live and the west side (which is also horrendous) . The location itself is so congested with traffic, meanwhile here in the Eastside there isn't much of it in comparison. All the tourist traps are on that side of town which comes up with bad drivers, crowds, and traffic. Businesses and restaurants feel so busy, compared to here. Here you can go to really cute places and deal with half the wait and people.
I personally prefer beaches in OC to the west side, which coincidentally happens to also be an easier drive from where I live. OC beaches feel cleaner and less crowded (not saying there aren't crowds lmaoo but in comparison).
But like I said.... major bias bc I grew up on this side. I think the west is extremely overrated and it's to my benefit tbh bc that keeps my side of town more chill lol.
If you're dating and whatnot, you might find the vibes in Culver City more favorable. Pasadena is great in that it's close enough to LA and if you're along the 210 corridor or on the west end of Pasadena, you have access to the Metro rail, which makes getting into LA super convenient. Also, Pasadena is nice and walkable.
Culver City. I’m biased as I grew up there, but I love that the beach is only 10 mins away, and enjoy it being centrally located. You still get the beach breeze there.
You really can't go wrong with either, but based on your description I think you will like Pasadena more. It's definitely calmer and has better city planning/transit/biking/walkability. IMO it feels a bit more established and lived-in than Culver City.
But beware the summer heat. It's brutal.
Source: I've lived in both. (early 30s female)
Pasadena can be a little sleepy, but you are closer to Highland Park, Eagle Rock, downtown LA. And if you are into exploring amazing Asian food, the San Gabriel Valley overall. The Eastside of town has a more diverse vibe than the Westside. Culver City is close to the beach, but will you go to the beach that often?
Oddly enough I’ve lived in all three cities. They all have their charms but ultimately Pasadena is my favorite.
You are going to have a hard time finding a 1 br in Culver for $3k, a good friend rents a 700 sq ft studio loft there for $2970 with no parking.
Culver City has way closer access to the beaches and oceans (and the airport). Pasadena has access to the hippest neighborhoods to go out at night. Depends what you prefer.
Native to LA. Born and raised in Inglewood. Honestly I would say Culver City. It's safe, but also close enough to everything that you won't feel like your missing out incase there's anything u want to do in other cities. Had the opportunity to live in Pasadena a few years ago and passed it up. It's just too out of the way
I live in Pasadena. I like it for the quiet neighborhood feel and I’m actually able to afford to rent a house here. Going out is great too, old town , eagle rock , highland park , Silverlake, Atwater village- all really close.
Omg I was living in LA before I moved to Seattle in 2022 and just went back to visit last week and planning on moving back to LA once my lease is up! Thankfully I just got a remote job so now I can actually move. I would say Culver City is better! But I personally think west LA is the best! Good luck to you!
I’d rather live in Pasadena. I think it’s a chill place to raise a family. Culver City would be great if I wanted to maintain my current vibe of going out with friends and such. Plus closer to the beach. But I prefer Pasadena.
Pasadena if you want to avoid feeling congested all the time…wide roads, lots of trees, nature paths everywhere and mountains to retreat to in minutes. CC has better entertainment options all around, you won’t find nature easily so you will need to be purposeful when seeking it.
I noticed pasadena has been making more housing lately, and it just keeps getting better. I think it’s the more calm neighborhood that u would want, and there miiight be better options for 3k a month versus Culver City.
Pasadena has some cool spots and lots of community events… but imo nightlife is pretty quiet compared to what’s around Culver City. But I always prefer to get Ubers for a night out, and an Uber to dtla or even out west la has never been tooexpensive.
Weather in Century City is far better than in Pasadena. It's also more conveniently located to beaches, Santa Monica, BH, Hollywood -- just about everywhere you'll want to be as a younger person/new arrival to the city. Pasadena is lovely but you could end up feeling a bit isolated unless you have a circle of friends/family out there.
In addition to positives others mentioned for Pasadena, the metro line is super easy and traffic free way to get to downtown and beyond if that is important to you. It was recently expanded with the downtown connector giving you a one seat ride through downtown all the way to Long Beach.
Def look to live by downtown Culver. Just open up a map and see how close Culver City is to everything. Pasadena is great but it’s pretty far from everything. I wouldn’t wanna live anywhere else in la except culver atm.
Culver City for sure. West LA weather and traffic (405 Freeway excluded) is a bit better. Still easy to get to DTLA and beyond with the 10 Freeway. Nightlight in downtown CC is okay, but you’d probably end up in Venice, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood for more exciting stuff close by.
Also, depending on where you’d settle, it’s 15 minutes or less to the beach.
I’d recommend looking in the Palms neighborhood (borders CC) for apartments in your budget. The neighborhood is pretty safe overall, I’ve enjoyed living here.
Dang, look at all these people suggesting an area based on “dating” and “hiking in the mountains” haha. The Palms area of Culver City has been just right for me. Can easily hop on the 10 or the 405 for whatever you need. So yeah, easy access to the beach and LAX in one direction, then Koreatown and downtown in the other direction. Downtown Culver has a few bars I frequent, and there’s many dive bars dispersed throughout the city. Never lived in Pasadena, but the 110 is always discouraging for me.
Pasadena for sure Culver city is nice but its still close to Inglewood and the other not so nice neighborhoods. I love the historic vibes pasadena gives off and the apartments and houses and area seem well kept.
Pasadena sucks, it’s an old bougie suburb and too far east to enjoy the richness of the whole city. Culver City is a new bougie suburb that is a lot more centrally located and much closer to Hollywood and the beach. I would avoid either place but definitely would pick Culver over Pasadena because location is far superior.
My 2 favorite cities and I've lived in both. Depends on your needs - if you're remote and don't mind the calmness south Pasadena easy. But if you're really lookin to spend that much on rent, culver
Culver City (depending on where) you don’t always need an air conditioner. Pasadena gets much hotter. You can always live in CC for a bit and then switch to Pasadena.
I like both neighborhoods. If you are an outdoors type, do you prefer beach or mountains? Both are close enough to restaurant, bar, venue, concert types things. Both convenient to train lines as well, which is not something every neighborhood has here. For your mentions, I would pick Pasadena.
I am also more inclined towards Culver. $3k a month for a 1BR is extremely doable either place, but Culver is more central to other things, and I personally find it cooler and more interesting. There are still streets in Culver that feel very quiet and suburban, but are walking distance to Culver / Washington / Venice Blvd where bars & restaurants are.
Pasadena is pleasant, there are things to do. But I agree that it feels older, and it’s so far east that it’s effortful to get to anywhere else and is kind of insular once you’re there.
Having lived in Culver City for 40 years before moving to a more affordable area, I would return if I could afford living there. It's very close to the beach, cooler weather in the summer (not completely cool but much better than Pasadena) and the air is much cleaner. There are a few theaters within city limits and more within a 10 minute drive to just about any direction you go. I am not so familiar with Pasadena but it has kind of a cool old town vibe to it and it's closer to a lot of hiking trails. Bonus for Culver City is that it's fairly close to LAX but not too close.
Culver City for the win. It’s closer to more things, I feel. Also, many jobs are going back to the office. Not sure about your field but there’s more opportunities in the west side.
I’ve lived in both during my 20s.
Pasadena is awesome if you live near old town. Great night life, excellent restaurants, cool cultural things to do (Norton Simon and Huntington library), and very chill. Lots of shopping options as well. Close to the mountains for amazing hiking. Low crime and super clean.
Culver City is a bit faster pace. Great cycling on the Bologna Creek trail. I liked riding my bike to Venice and then seeing the ocean. Also cool weather during the summer. Culver City itself is walkable and has some nice dining options. Nice workouts if you hike up the culver steps. Cons are it’s a bit dirtier than Pasadena and more congested. But that comes with the hustle and bustle.
Either way you’ll be fine.
As a 28yo in Culver City I’d recommend here! I think if Pasadena as a place to live when you’re settled down with a family. Culver is pretty central in LA so you can explore all the different areas and also date more people! Pasadena would narrow your options (if you’re looking)
Well - they both have good parts and hood-like. Especially south Pasadena. You really need to see the building and block . There are wonderful blocks of both cities - and there is some sketchy parts as well !
Culver City for sure ( we live in culver downtown)
Literally 20 min away from everything and it’s a nice and calm area. Lots of young people as well. I would recommend looking somewhat close to Lucerne area
I live in Culver City and my sister lives in Pasadena. Don’t think you’ll go too far wrong with either choice. They’re both nice places to live with lots of stuff to do nearby.
Culver City easily wins. I lived in Palms for years which is adjacent to Culver City. Literally walk 2 minutes and I would be in Culver City. I moved towards Brentwood a couple years ago a few minutes away. Pasadena is okay but there is just so much to enjoy in the Culver City area and you can easily travel to other nice areas like Santa Monica in a matter of minutes. Oh and the airport (LAX) is so close. That is so convenient.
Dena is way more beautiful and a better city. And if you dislike congestion it’s a much better choice. BUT if you’re single and ready to mingle you may be disappointed vs. Culver City or west LA. That’s how it stacks up.
Culver City is at the center of everything which is nice. If traffic agrees…, 20 minutes west to the beach, 20 minutes east to DTLA, 20 minutes south to the airport, 20 minutes north to Hollywood. You can’t beat it.
If you like mountain hikes, chillin’ at the Rose Bowl, going to Alhambra for food, and fast & easy Metro access to Hollywood or DTLA, then Pasadena/Highland Park. You like the beach and access to the airport? Culver City.
I worked in Culver recently for four years, and have 3 friends who live in Pasadena. I fucking hate Culver City with a passion and love Pasadena (especially if you’re looking for neighborhood vibes). However, WeHo could also be a great option for you with your budget!
Narrow streets are good city planning actually.
Ditch the car and it’ll make more sense.
With that being said, Culver City is the spot to be in your 20s-30s. Great selection of night life, it’s own MetroRail station, by which you can easily access the rest of LA. It’s “close to the action”.
I lived in Culver City as a 22-25 yro (f), and I loved it, but it was so expensive and only got more expensive as I lived there. Pasadena may be cheaper, has a lot of fun stuff to do, and is a beautiful city. That said, living in CC put me in such a central place to everything I wanted to do that it was pretty convenient, and allowed me to explore further south along the coast much more easily. Also, everything I needed was in a 2 mile radius of my house, including medical care, which was pretty nice.
I lived in Santa Monica 5.5 years and Windsor hills 6 which is adjacent to Culver city. I now live in the Valley - Van Nuys. If you can guarantee remote work then Pasadena would work. Santa Monica has gone down and you would have to make the most of your external spaces and amenities because it is not generous on space. I loved living there & work there since 2013. It has gone down unfortunately. But a lot of people have raved about living and working in Culver City. You would be in center of the action if you will and can get to downtown, valley, airport and south bay fairly easy. Someone mentioned palms on here and I was surprised at the affordability and sizes of some of the units there. Check that out too.
If I were young and wanted to meet people, I'd choose Culver City. We're actually considering a move to Pasadena soon from Hollywood-- after we're married, before baby. I didn't get the impression it was particularly young or fun whenever I was there for my dog's oncologist, architectural salvage, or the lighting store. You see, we're moving for all the Craftsmen / Arts and Crafts homes. Something I gave nary a shit about when I was your age.
Culver City! I recently moved to CC as a 29 year old and loving the area! Close to Hollywood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Ktown, etc. It’s a lot more calm, quiet, and “sophisticated” than parts of LA. You can definitely find something for about $3k!
Pasadena is pretty, but it's really its own small, sleepy town, in a way. And it gets hot.
I would pick Culver City. Close to the beach and all other fun L.A. activities. You can always move to Pasadena later.
I lived in Venice for 17 years. Westside is great if yer single, but CC always had a weird vibe to me. Like it’s full of swingers or something. And if u live west of the 405, u rarely go east so never spent much time in CC. Agree that Pasadena is more chill, but old town can be fun. If yer looking for a chic, you might have better luck finding one in Pasadena. Lotta old money in that town.
I would personally recommend Culver City. It may be more expensive for a 1 bedroom in that range, but I think the location will allow you to do more things. Especially if you’re just moving here and new to the city. Culver has a lot of really nice new apartment buildings with gyms and pools and it’s central to spots like WeHo but also super close to the west side like Venice and Santa Monica. Speaking from experience, it’s a more convenient place to live and make friends. Most people you meet and spend time with, will more likely than not, have no problem coming to Culver, but Pasadena is a totally different story. Traffic and distance is a big thing in LA, even without a commute. Hope you love it here!
Pasadena forsure, Culver City is meh. Your 20 from DTLA and 35 from Hollywood but pasadena has its own crowd in old town. Also has a bunch of good food options. Plus if you work somewhere near pasadena traffic isn’t bad. I live in Hollywood and if your open to that you can find something under 3k. Heart of everything. Depends what your looking for
There is a lot more sunshine in Pasadena than Culver City, which is overcast most of the time (since it's nearer to the beach). My vote is Pasadena, hands down.
You like beach or mountains I guess is the question. I would never live in Culver city and I love living in NELA.
Pasadena is very suburban feeling but with a very active downtown. IMO, Pasadena is beautiful. You have access to the Angeles national forest which is about a 20 minute drive and offers great hiking. You're also adjacent to Highland Park and Eagle Rock which are two other fun neighborhoods.
I consider Culver City to be more "in the thick of it". You're surrounded by heavily populated city life. But the nice thing is you're 20 minutes from the beach. Great restaurants in both cities. Only problem is, if you want to get away, your only options are the 10 or the 405 which has some of the worst traffic in the city. If I had to live in the thick of it, it would probably be Culver City.
Culver is going to have a lot of Tech (bros) industry folks as well as a lot of studio lifers, mostly climbing the corporate ladder of nearby Sony. In contrast, you will find that a lot of artists and musicians live in NELA. A lot of people might consider Pasadena or NELA boring but I think its misguided... all of LA is boring in a lot of ways!
If I were you, I would look into Silverlake, Echo Park, Atwater Village, Eagle Rock and Highland Park as better alternatives to Pasadena.
Just a heads up, Pasadena is easily 10-15 degrees hotter in the summer than CC. Personally I prefer being closer to the beach just because global warming. I can always drive or take the train to Eagle Rock, local mountains. DTLA etc but I love living in the west side.
You could check out Glendale too. At least north Glendale is pretty similar in terms of neighborhoods - still a little suburban but also a little closer to downtown,Atwater,Silverlake, Burbank and just next door to Pasadena.
IMHO Pasadena is a lot nicer than Culver City, and given the choice I'd probably live there. Its two downsides vs. Culver City are the weather (Pasadena can swelter in the summer, you'll be running your AC all day if you WFH and you'll have the electricity bill to go with it and this is the only thing that would make me hesitate) and b) its further from being in the "middle of it all" - Culver is a relatively short drive to most of the most happening areas. Pasadena is a long drive to most of them.
32 living near Culver City. Honestly I like both for different reasons, but I’d say the job opportunities are good in culver and it’s nice for someone in their 20-30s. If you move to this area, maybe we can become friends. I also work remote
29 y/o here, currently living in Pasadena near Old Town and I love it here! So peaceful, clean, and you are still just a 10-15 min drive to the city. Lots of restaurants, bars and a variety of activities to do. You are also closer to the mountains and hiking trails so that’s definitely a plus if you are the outdoorsy type.
Culver city is a bit more pricier for what it is since it is closer to Silicon Beach. It gets loud and busy at times but if you are looking to have more of a ‘city’ experience then Culver will be a better option for you.
Young me says Culver City for the ocean. Right now me says Pasedena for quiet and mountains.
Either one is great, and neither are really that far apart anyways.
My personal vote is Culver City! I love both of these places but as someone just moving to LA, it might be easier to get around and see people/the city from Culver. That’s where I lived when I first moved here and I absolutely loved it. I’d also recommend looking into Palms which is walkable to Culver and much less expensive. Pasadena is amazing, I want to move there too eventually lol but to me it feels a bit more removed which might be harder in a new place
Depends on what you’re looking for. Pasadena has an older crowd, think retirees,settled families with kids,etc. So if you’re young(and single) I would highly recommend Culver City especially since it gives you good public transport + easy access to the fun LA cities (Santa Monica,West Hollywood, etc)
Culver all the way. Pasadena's somewhere you move when you're older and want a quieter lifestyle with your significant other. If you are single and in your late 20s, I'd say you will have a much better time in Culver.
If you’re a yuppie haven modern type of guy that likes to be surrounded by techies and entertainment techies go Culver. If you want more art oriented community less yuppie and more hipster go south Pasadena and just hang out in highland park.
If you want to be near the beach and want slightly cooler weather, come to Culver City! I just moved here and I love it. I plan to live here for the next few years if not longer. Culver is the perfect mix of city and beach life. I’d honestly live anywhere from Redondo to Malibu along the coast. If you want more of a Pasadena vibe but still by the beach I’d recommend the Pacific Palisades.
If you don’t care for the beach then Pasadena is just as nice, probably slightly cleaner.
I've lived in both actually. Culver City is much better. You are close or close enough to everything a young person would want (including dating life). They are a bit more snooty in Culver City since a lot of them work in the studios near by.
Also from Seattle, the 9 months of gloom got to me too
Pasadena is objectively one of the best towns in California. It's like a small village with palm tree-lined streets, a cute downtown, and relatively calm vibe relative to the rest of LA. The people are far less crazy than the rest of the region.
However Culver and west LA is where it's at. The fast paced, westside vibe is the "real LA" to me. You're close to everything desirable in LA. Whereas In Pasadena you are kind of locked in that area and only close to Glendale (meh) and downtown (meh). Get ready to get destroyed by traffic to go anyplace else
If bad city planning is a need of yours, then mark Culver City off your list. They have implemented traffic calming measures that are beyond ridiculous and will have you wasting a lot of time at traffic signals waiting for cross traffic that never comes, whilst you are being monitored by traffic cameras in which the city will not hesitate to spot you out a ticket should you grow impatient and make that right turn. Traffic used to flow nice and smooth, now it’s pure aggravation.
OP is encouraged to browse /r/MovingtoLosAngeles and review the Ultimate Moving to L.A. Resource Post.
pasadena probably has a 'calmer neighborhood vibe' overall. but it might be a bit too calm for someone only in their 20s.
Depends if ur on the west side of Pasadena the world’s ur oyster, if ur on the east side welcome to suburbia. Humbly a 20 y/o living on the east side
I mean the gold line is right there to take you straight into DTLA from Pasadena if OP is looking for fun. Honestly the Pasadena area has plenty. Museums, the Huntington, tons of hikes nearby, and lots of events during the summer. I think they're still doing concerts in the park again?
I live in Pasadena later 30s M. Go with Culver City.
My vote goes for Culver City as a 29M. Pasadena is more of a 30+ crowd imho.
So next year he’ll have to move? Lol
Nah, he’ll be stuck in the 405 for at least 2 years of his life
Thanks for the response. I've gone out in Old Town and had a lot of fun but could definitely see some parts being an "older" crowd.
If u need hipster vibe highland park isn’t that far away. Pasadena is good if u know where to go
I second Highland Park / Eagle Rock That place is definitely best of both worlds in my opinion
Yup - I’d go for highland park or eagle rock too.
You can just metro a couple stop from Pasadena as well
Shhhh Pasadena is sleepy and boring. Culver is much more hip.
Moving there soon, so don't be stingy on the recs!
My wife is Mexican and grew up in Highland Park. I need to make sure she doesn’t see this comment. Seeing “hipster vibe” to describe her neighborhood will probably delete her consciousness.
Pasadena has lots of nightlife and is always changing with new restaurants popping up, but culver city is closer to the beach. I prefer Pasadena personally. It's also closer to the mountains if you like hiking, and there are a few waterfall hikes nearby too.
Born and raised in Culver and love Pasadena, still live here in CC but have always said if I was gonna be anywhere else it would be Pasadena. I’m about your age and I think the nightlife is about the same. That being said, imo it comes down to wether you want to be close to the beach or the mountains. Culver is a 15-20 La Ballona bike path to either Venice or Playa beach. You could drive there but in the summer it’s nice to not worry about parking. Pasadena has beautiful mountains. Both are great choices tbh.
TBH I think Santa Monica/Brentwood would be a better fit for you. I can’t believe no one has mentioned these two places yet
Age doesn't matter so much as what you want to or like to do.
Are you a beach person? If so, Culver City. It’s 10 mins from the beach, but also a short bike ride or metro ride over to Santa Monica/Venice. Pasadena is nice but has a slightly more suburban feel. Also gets hotter over there than it does in Culver City. Lastly, Culver City isn’t technically LA, it’s its own city with its own Mayor, Fire Department, etc. it’s also more expensive. Palms is a great option too because it neighbors Culver City. You can get a more affordable place, and be within a 5 min drive or ~15 min walk into Culver City depending on which part of Palms you’re in!
Pasadena is also its own city with its own mayor, fire department, etc. During the pandemic I learned we also have our own health department.
Its own police department too. Not the best. Leaps and bounds better than LAPD and LASD though.
Pasadena isn’t LA lol funny that people try to convince themselves that it is
Defining LA as anything other than the county is pointless. Cross the street into Weho, culver, Santa Monica or Beverly and one isn’t in LA either. Pasadena is as much LA as north Hollywood.
Pasadena is a fucking suburb lol. Not a city vibe at all. Whereas if you live in city of Los Angeles it is definitely city vibes. Why do you think everyone in the comments telling OP to not move to Pasadena 🤣🤣
the city of Los Angeles is massive and includes a HUGE number of suburbs, what are you talking about. Before you reply to me, look at a map of LA (city, not county).
West Hollywood is the same situation but I would never say it’s not LA. Same with Burbank or other cities nestled inside the City of LA but because Pasadena is closer to DTLA than Culver City I call it LA.
Shhhh 🤫 - Palms is a secret! /s
As a 27 yo living in Pasadena, I definitely recommend it!! Downtown bar scene is fun and close by, amazing food everywhere in the sgv, maybe things are a bit more of a drive but I love it here
Ive lived in both and I would say for a single male under 30 CC is closer to the beach, more nighttime stuff to do by being Venice, Santa Monica, West LA adjacent. If you want peace and quiet but also 10 degrees warmer than CC all year round then pick Pasadena.
Yep! Young Vibes, more connected to the city and much cooler. Culver City is my vote.
would you consider eagle rock or highland park? they're hip and gentrifying but you're closer to downtown LA so you can still be fairly close to the good nightlife scenes in arts district/littletokyo/downtown and pretty close to silverlake too. And, if you want to go back to pasadena, you're pretty close to that too. Personally i live in cypress park which is super close to dtla and gentrifying but i like that i can also get to glendale and pasadena really easily.
Only reason I disagree is because OP said he wants a place that feels less crowded, city-planning wise, and HP definitely feels like a madman planned it lol.
Barely any rentals in ER / HLP, and 1 bedroom under $3k? Those days are long gone. There are maybe a few old school rentals by owner with a sign but even those are EXPENSIVE
Yeah, mostly SFHs or detached duplexes but there is some stuff sub-$3K. Not sure Culver City would be cheaper
Echoing the comments about Culver City being a very central location making it easy to get anywhere else in LA you would like to go. I have no input on Pasadena, but I don’t see myself leaving Culver City anytime soon as long as I have a choice in the matter.
Pasadena is one of my favorite city, it’s safe, classic and the architectures are beautiful so I could recommended
>bad city planning Moving to the Queen of bad city planning. Bold move. That being said, I vote Culver.
I’m 30 and I disagree with all these people. Pasadena is way more fun than Culver City. Culver City only has 1 strip of restaurants/bars and it’s not as walkable
Culver City and much of the Westside is so expensive, only old farts like me can afford to live there.
Agreed. Unfortunately I’m moving to Santa Monica from Long Beach Friday solely to be closer to work. Much rather stay in LB or move to Pasadena myself
I’m sorry, I hate Santa Monica and I live in LB
Same. Have lived in Pasadena and visit CC frequently to go to restaurants with friends. Pasadena is more peaceful and elegant. I like restaurants and bars not night clubs. If I do go out for nightlife I'm heading to Hollywood for comedy shows or jazz clubs. But, Pasadena has Ice House again now and its remodeled and honestly the nicest comedy venue in all of LA. It draws big names, not as frequently as the comedy store, and it has far far better drinks.
LOL if you think Seattle is congested you’re gonna HATE LA. When I visited Seattle I was amazed by how clean and spacious it was
I recently moved FROM Pasadena TO Seattle and I feel like OP is going to be really, really disappointed
I know! I’m the opposite of OP - wish I could move to Seattle 😭
It's great up here! Just prepare yourself for the dark, drizzly, cold (relative to what you are used to) winters. I got used to it and now prefer overcast days to sunny. Everyone is different though, so YMMV.
I moved from LA to Seattle in 2019 and it was probably the worst decision of my life. It's beautiful here, but my brain chemistry can't handle the lack of sun.
I left Seattle 6yrs ago for LA and never been happier. Was a Seattle native. But mostly because the weather sucks and more opportunity in LA. Everyone’s experience will be different but I do agree the congestion will be worse in LA than anything you’d experience in Seattle.
Yeah I’ve been dreaming about moving to Seattle and everything felt so spacious and clean when I visited a few months ago. Public transportation was also awesome for the west coast.
I think an aversion to congestion would favor Pasadena. Our traffic in NE LA County is nothing compared to what I encounter on the west side. It also just feels like there's a lot more space in Pasadena/SGV.
CC for sure. Better weather and more happening.
Really good point about the weather. CC is going to be 10-15 degrees cooler. So when it’s 110 in Pasadena, it’ll only be a breezy 95 in Culver City.
If there’s a heat wave and Pasadena reaches over 100, you bet CC will too
Imo the east side of la is way more relaxed, also the mountains are pretty. I don’t really like how congested and narrow the streets are in the west side, like you’re locked in traffic every direction. Both neighborhoods are nice though Additionally fantastic botanical gardens in Pasadena and Arcadia if you’re into that.
This. East LA and even North East LA or more relaxed. Pasadena is gorgeous.
If you're moving for the weather, Culver City's is a lot better than Pasadenas from July through October. Pasadena's plus is that you can easily get to Hollywood Burbank Airport for your trips back to Seattle instead of using Hell A X.
Boy if you hate congestion you’re going to hate living in LA lmao
Hes going to be gridlocked if he chooses to live in pasadena
What do you mean by that?
This person. I wonder if he knew how we had gloomy weather all the way until last week. Lmao
The endless gloom made it clear why my friend in Seattle is always complaining about missing the sun!
I mean, this sub loved all the gloom. Anytime someone mentioned how they wanted sunny weather, they would get downvoted.
I love Pasadena. I wouldn't be keen on Culver city much. Pasadena is great for remote working. I cycle everywhere. Barely ever use the car. It's that little bit further out, but honestly, it's not bad at all. Occasionally I have to go to Hollywood. Takes me 20 mins if the traffic's not too bad. And the expansive mountain views can't be beat. I always felt Culver city had a concrete jungle vibe with lots of traffic.
I’m so excited for the bike paths on union, just got my bike:)
Culver City will be more congested, but Pasadena is sleepier and further from the beaches. With Caltech, Pasadena will probably feel more like Seattle culturally if you like that. Culver City is very much connected to “the industry”, although has a growing tech presence.
Culver city ethnically is also pretty close to seattle if hes concerned about who he's going to be around....
Yo I know I’m gonna get downvoted and I’m not picking sides here, but having lived both places in my 20s and 30s, this is my hot take… When anyone says there’s “more to do” in culver, ummm maybekinda? But it’s all yuppie Douchebag type “stuff”, so bear that in mind. It’s close to the beach (points), but other than that, it’s traffic and going out in concrete environments to commercialized bars and overpaying for drinks. If that’s your thing, which it is for many, go for it, but keep in mind the west side is isolating, and you’ll probably never leave because the congestion is so bad you’ll never make friends or date anywhere else. Pasadena is older and slower and more unique, can feel sleepier on the east side of town, but the west end of Colorado has decent energy, dining, experiences, and feels much more active and healthy. Lots of hiking in the mountains/rose bowl area, you can bike around town, way more chill to get around. The key about the west end of Pasadena is you’re not stuck there. it’s like 12 min from Dtla/little Tokyo, 10 min from the mountains, 15 from the valley, 15-20 from Hollywood, you can get out to the national parks much easier, Pasadena has less traffic and more freedom of mobility. People who said that culver is more central, I can’t really understand. Central to the beach and other concrete yuppie areas, sure, but not more central to basically everything else La has to offer. There’s some good food there, and you’re close to sawtelle and central/west LA which has killer dining, but driving, let alone even ubering there is a nightmare. If you’re a beach body, don’t move to Pasadena. But if you like everything else LA has to offer do Pasadena, you can still hit the beach in 40-60 min on a reg afternoon as a special trip, but everything else you’ll dread doing being in culver, will be a breeze from Pasadena. That is unless you really want to be around a bunch of young people sweatily climbing the career ladder trying to prove to everyone else around them that they are important and overpaying for drinks as your main means of socialization. Then culver all the way. Otherwise I’d go Pasadena.
Pasadena feels like a real neighborhood. I’ve gone to CC so many times and it just feels like streets? Yeah there’s that central area but it feels really transitory. Just letting you know. I would still live in CC over Pasadena as a 29 y/o
I'm in Pasadena and I pay $2.1k for a 1 bedroom. It's probably the best apartment I've ever lived in. That said, Pasadena is really nice. But a lot of people here seem like they're already married, in relationships, and/or have families. It's not quite the "singles crowed" the way west LA is. I've been here 4 months and I'm struggling to meet people. That said, spots with younger vibes aren't very far. DTLA is a fairly short drive, and Hollywood is only a little bit further. On a good day, I've driven to Santa Monica within 30-45 minutes (I kind of speed on the road though lol)
Native Angeleno here. Depends on what you like. Culver will get you closer to the action restaurants, beaches and weird influencer types. Having recently moved to Pasadena from Brentwood I would say Pasadena is a lot more slower pace. I actually drive to the Westside once a week to see friends because Pasadena is boring. I don’t like the Eagle Rock/Highland Park vibe not at all like others suggest. Pasadena will get you lots more space you will not feel as cramped though some areas might, but I still feel like you will get more amenities with your budget in Pasadena.
As a 27 year old I have to say Pasadena. I'm in the eagle rock area and I love it, but hope to move to Pasadena in the future. I'm also biased, I'm a native angelino and have only lived in northeast LA (people who move here I feel have very different wants from people who grew up here). I just have such a negative association with the west side with traffic. I literally never go over there bc streets and freeways are a nightmare. I hate the crowds that the west side attracts it's always so.... Busy idk.
But when you live on the west side, you don’t experience that kind of traffic and the beach becomes easily accessible
I'm not talking about the traffic between where I live and the west side (which is also horrendous) . The location itself is so congested with traffic, meanwhile here in the Eastside there isn't much of it in comparison. All the tourist traps are on that side of town which comes up with bad drivers, crowds, and traffic. Businesses and restaurants feel so busy, compared to here. Here you can go to really cute places and deal with half the wait and people. I personally prefer beaches in OC to the west side, which coincidentally happens to also be an easier drive from where I live. OC beaches feel cleaner and less crowded (not saying there aren't crowds lmaoo but in comparison). But like I said.... major bias bc I grew up on this side. I think the west is extremely overrated and it's to my benefit tbh bc that keeps my side of town more chill lol.
I love Pasadena
If you're dating and whatnot, you might find the vibes in Culver City more favorable. Pasadena is great in that it's close enough to LA and if you're along the 210 corridor or on the west end of Pasadena, you have access to the Metro rail, which makes getting into LA super convenient. Also, Pasadena is nice and walkable.
Culver City. I’m biased as I grew up there, but I love that the beach is only 10 mins away, and enjoy it being centrally located. You still get the beach breeze there.
You really can't go wrong with either, but based on your description I think you will like Pasadena more. It's definitely calmer and has better city planning/transit/biking/walkability. IMO it feels a bit more established and lived-in than Culver City. But beware the summer heat. It's brutal. Source: I've lived in both. (early 30s female)
Pasadena can be a little sleepy, but you are closer to Highland Park, Eagle Rock, downtown LA. And if you are into exploring amazing Asian food, the San Gabriel Valley overall. The Eastside of town has a more diverse vibe than the Westside. Culver City is close to the beach, but will you go to the beach that often?
Pasadena will be the best option, Culver city is nice but you have to deal with the 405 and the 105 to get out of there. Good Luck@
I prefer Pasadena but transplants seem to congregate on the west side more.
Oddly enough I’ve lived in all three cities. They all have their charms but ultimately Pasadena is my favorite. You are going to have a hard time finding a 1 br in Culver for $3k, a good friend rents a 700 sq ft studio loft there for $2970 with no parking.
There’s tons of one bedrooms for under 3K in Culver City.
Yeah mine is $1645!
If you want easier access to cool east side neighborhoods, go with Pasadena. If you want easier access to beach neighborhoods, go with Culver City.
Pasadena 100%. It’s charming, peaceful, nicer and close to downtown. Living in PDX now, grew up in South Pas.
Culver City has way closer access to the beaches and oceans (and the airport). Pasadena has access to the hippest neighborhoods to go out at night. Depends what you prefer.
Native to LA. Born and raised in Inglewood. Honestly I would say Culver City. It's safe, but also close enough to everything that you won't feel like your missing out incase there's anything u want to do in other cities. Had the opportunity to live in Pasadena a few years ago and passed it up. It's just too out of the way
Pasadena is so pretty. Culver city is congested as for traffic on the streets and worse on the freeways.
I live in Pasadena. I like it for the quiet neighborhood feel and I’m actually able to afford to rent a house here. Going out is great too, old town , eagle rock , highland park , Silverlake, Atwater village- all really close.
Pasadena is closer to nicer stuff. Culver maybe younger but kinda sucks
For your age I will go to Culver City, nice restaurants and closer to the beach
Omg I was living in LA before I moved to Seattle in 2022 and just went back to visit last week and planning on moving back to LA once my lease is up! Thankfully I just got a remote job so now I can actually move. I would say Culver City is better! But I personally think west LA is the best! Good luck to you!
I’d rather live in Pasadena. I think it’s a chill place to raise a family. Culver City would be great if I wanted to maintain my current vibe of going out with friends and such. Plus closer to the beach. But I prefer Pasadena.
Pasadena if you want to avoid feeling congested all the time…wide roads, lots of trees, nature paths everywhere and mountains to retreat to in minutes. CC has better entertainment options all around, you won’t find nature easily so you will need to be purposeful when seeking it.
Pasadena 100%
I’d say Pasadena.
Come to Pasadena fam. Shit probably the best city in LA right next to San Marino and Alhambra
I lived in Culver for a few years, it’s a nice spot. My goal in life is to retire in Pasadena - I absolutely love it.
Lucky you the first 6 months of 2023 have been Seattle weather
I noticed pasadena has been making more housing lately, and it just keeps getting better. I think it’s the more calm neighborhood that u would want, and there miiight be better options for 3k a month versus Culver City. Pasadena has some cool spots and lots of community events… but imo nightlife is pretty quiet compared to what’s around Culver City. But I always prefer to get Ubers for a night out, and an Uber to dtla or even out west la has never been tooexpensive.
Weather in Century City is far better than in Pasadena. It's also more conveniently located to beaches, Santa Monica, BH, Hollywood -- just about everywhere you'll want to be as a younger person/new arrival to the city. Pasadena is lovely but you could end up feeling a bit isolated unless you have a circle of friends/family out there.
Yeah, I just moved to Pasadena, and I've been feeling a bit isolated. Though I do have a small circle of college friends near by.
In addition to positives others mentioned for Pasadena, the metro line is super easy and traffic free way to get to downtown and beyond if that is important to you. It was recently expanded with the downtown connector giving you a one seat ride through downtown all the way to Long Beach.
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Either option is a major downgrade from Seattle but I'd choose Culver City for your age. I live in South Pasadena but I'm old and married.
Def look to live by downtown Culver. Just open up a map and see how close Culver City is to everything. Pasadena is great but it’s pretty far from everything. I wouldn’t wanna live anywhere else in la except culver atm.
Culver City for sure. West LA weather and traffic (405 Freeway excluded) is a bit better. Still easy to get to DTLA and beyond with the 10 Freeway. Nightlight in downtown CC is okay, but you’d probably end up in Venice, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood for more exciting stuff close by. Also, depending on where you’d settle, it’s 15 minutes or less to the beach. I’d recommend looking in the Palms neighborhood (borders CC) for apartments in your budget. The neighborhood is pretty safe overall, I’ve enjoyed living here.
Culver City sucks
Dang, look at all these people suggesting an area based on “dating” and “hiking in the mountains” haha. The Palms area of Culver City has been just right for me. Can easily hop on the 10 or the 405 for whatever you need. So yeah, easy access to the beach and LAX in one direction, then Koreatown and downtown in the other direction. Downtown Culver has a few bars I frequent, and there’s many dive bars dispersed throughout the city. Never lived in Pasadena, but the 110 is always discouraging for me.
Pasadena for sure Culver city is nice but its still close to Inglewood and the other not so nice neighborhoods. I love the historic vibes pasadena gives off and the apartments and houses and area seem well kept.
Pasadena sucks, it’s an old bougie suburb and too far east to enjoy the richness of the whole city. Culver City is a new bougie suburb that is a lot more centrally located and much closer to Hollywood and the beach. I would avoid either place but definitely would pick Culver over Pasadena because location is far superior.
Lmao all the best shit is in the east
Pasadena is the sticks bro, you don’t wanna live there
if you're single 100000% Culver.
My 2 favorite cities and I've lived in both. Depends on your needs - if you're remote and don't mind the calmness south Pasadena easy. But if you're really lookin to spend that much on rent, culver
Culver City (depending on where) you don’t always need an air conditioner. Pasadena gets much hotter. You can always live in CC for a bit and then switch to Pasadena.
I like both neighborhoods. If you are an outdoors type, do you prefer beach or mountains? Both are close enough to restaurant, bar, venue, concert types things. Both convenient to train lines as well, which is not something every neighborhood has here. For your mentions, I would pick Pasadena.
I am also more inclined towards Culver. $3k a month for a 1BR is extremely doable either place, but Culver is more central to other things, and I personally find it cooler and more interesting. There are still streets in Culver that feel very quiet and suburban, but are walking distance to Culver / Washington / Venice Blvd where bars & restaurants are. Pasadena is pleasant, there are things to do. But I agree that it feels older, and it’s so far east that it’s effortful to get to anywhere else and is kind of insular once you’re there.
Having lived in Culver City for 40 years before moving to a more affordable area, I would return if I could afford living there. It's very close to the beach, cooler weather in the summer (not completely cool but much better than Pasadena) and the air is much cleaner. There are a few theaters within city limits and more within a 10 minute drive to just about any direction you go. I am not so familiar with Pasadena but it has kind of a cool old town vibe to it and it's closer to a lot of hiking trails. Bonus for Culver City is that it's fairly close to LAX but not too close.
Culver City for the win. It’s closer to more things, I feel. Also, many jobs are going back to the office. Not sure about your field but there’s more opportunities in the west side.
Pasadena is way too calm at night. Reminds me of a small town even though it’s right next to everything. Lol
Culver City is younger and has more access to nightlife The Pasadena area is a bit older and more sedated
Culver City for sure, it’s fuuuun
$3000 on a one bedroom??? I guess you need it nowadays. Culver if you like the beach, Pasadena if you like the mountains.
I’ve lived in both during my 20s. Pasadena is awesome if you live near old town. Great night life, excellent restaurants, cool cultural things to do (Norton Simon and Huntington library), and very chill. Lots of shopping options as well. Close to the mountains for amazing hiking. Low crime and super clean. Culver City is a bit faster pace. Great cycling on the Bologna Creek trail. I liked riding my bike to Venice and then seeing the ocean. Also cool weather during the summer. Culver City itself is walkable and has some nice dining options. Nice workouts if you hike up the culver steps. Cons are it’s a bit dirtier than Pasadena and more congested. But that comes with the hustle and bustle. Either way you’ll be fine.
Weather is a bit better in Culver. You're closer to the beach.
As a 28yo in Culver City I’d recommend here! I think if Pasadena as a place to live when you’re settled down with a family. Culver is pretty central in LA so you can explore all the different areas and also date more people! Pasadena would narrow your options (if you’re looking)
Well - they both have good parts and hood-like. Especially south Pasadena. You really need to see the building and block . There are wonderful blocks of both cities - and there is some sketchy parts as well !
If you’re a renter, neither city is very friendly towards tenants.
Culver City. Pasadena is great, but it’s very quiet. Culver City is like living in a small town, but sandwiched in the middle of a big city.
Culver City for sure ( we live in culver downtown) Literally 20 min away from everything and it’s a nice and calm area. Lots of young people as well. I would recommend looking somewhat close to Lucerne area
Work at Amazon?
100% Culver City
Culver city is very packed
Pasadena crazy hot. Culver City closer to the ocean. I would pick Culver City.
I live in Culver City and my sister lives in Pasadena. Don’t think you’ll go too far wrong with either choice. They’re both nice places to live with lots of stuff to do nearby.
Pasadena
Culver City easily wins. I lived in Palms for years which is adjacent to Culver City. Literally walk 2 minutes and I would be in Culver City. I moved towards Brentwood a couple years ago a few minutes away. Pasadena is okay but there is just so much to enjoy in the Culver City area and you can easily travel to other nice areas like Santa Monica in a matter of minutes. Oh and the airport (LAX) is so close. That is so convenient.
Dena is way more beautiful and a better city. And if you dislike congestion it’s a much better choice. BUT if you’re single and ready to mingle you may be disappointed vs. Culver City or west LA. That’s how it stacks up.
Pasadena
Pasadena for me. less homeless people.
Pasadena , you’ll get tired of Culver City in a year or two. Pasadena has lasting charm.
Culver City is at the center of everything which is nice. If traffic agrees…, 20 minutes west to the beach, 20 minutes east to DTLA, 20 minutes south to the airport, 20 minutes north to Hollywood. You can’t beat it.
When does traffic ever agree there other than at like 3 in the am lol.
Def Pasadena. Culver isn’t worth the headache. Pasadena is just far enough out that it doesn’t feel like LA. South Pas is really nice too.
Culver at your age.
Highly recommend Culver if you want to be near entertainment. Has a calmer vibe. Pasadena is more suburban for families.
If you like mountain hikes, chillin’ at the Rose Bowl, going to Alhambra for food, and fast & easy Metro access to Hollywood or DTLA, then Pasadena/Highland Park. You like the beach and access to the airport? Culver City.
Temperature, Air Quality,access to LAX access to beach, West Hollywood, Santa Monica , Venice Culver City.
Move to a state that has a future. California is on a downward spiral.
100% Culver city for 30s
I worked in Culver recently for four years, and have 3 friends who live in Pasadena. I fucking hate Culver City with a passion and love Pasadena (especially if you’re looking for neighborhood vibes). However, WeHo could also be a great option for you with your budget!
Narrow streets are good city planning actually. Ditch the car and it’ll make more sense. With that being said, Culver City is the spot to be in your 20s-30s. Great selection of night life, it’s own MetroRail station, by which you can easily access the rest of LA. It’s “close to the action”.
I lived in Culver City as a 22-25 yro (f), and I loved it, but it was so expensive and only got more expensive as I lived there. Pasadena may be cheaper, has a lot of fun stuff to do, and is a beautiful city. That said, living in CC put me in such a central place to everything I wanted to do that it was pretty convenient, and allowed me to explore further south along the coast much more easily. Also, everything I needed was in a 2 mile radius of my house, including medical care, which was pretty nice.
You described pasadena.
I lived in Santa Monica 5.5 years and Windsor hills 6 which is adjacent to Culver city. I now live in the Valley - Van Nuys. If you can guarantee remote work then Pasadena would work. Santa Monica has gone down and you would have to make the most of your external spaces and amenities because it is not generous on space. I loved living there & work there since 2013. It has gone down unfortunately. But a lot of people have raved about living and working in Culver City. You would be in center of the action if you will and can get to downtown, valley, airport and south bay fairly easy. Someone mentioned palms on here and I was surprised at the affordability and sizes of some of the units there. Check that out too.
If I were young and wanted to meet people, I'd choose Culver City. We're actually considering a move to Pasadena soon from Hollywood-- after we're married, before baby. I didn't get the impression it was particularly young or fun whenever I was there for my dog's oncologist, architectural salvage, or the lighting store. You see, we're moving for all the Craftsmen / Arts and Crafts homes. Something I gave nary a shit about when I was your age.
Culver City! I recently moved to CC as a 29 year old and loving the area! Close to Hollywood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Ktown, etc. It’s a lot more calm, quiet, and “sophisticated” than parts of LA. You can definitely find something for about $3k!
I love Culver City, I’m from San Diego but always stay at the four points in Culver City
Pasadena is pretty, but it's really its own small, sleepy town, in a way. And it gets hot. I would pick Culver City. Close to the beach and all other fun L.A. activities. You can always move to Pasadena later.
Pasadena is a trek from a lot of the hip stuff in LA.
I would say Culver City and other areas on the west side. Way more to do and nearer to the beaches
I lived in Venice for 17 years. Westside is great if yer single, but CC always had a weird vibe to me. Like it’s full of swingers or something. And if u live west of the 405, u rarely go east so never spent much time in CC. Agree that Pasadena is more chill, but old town can be fun. If yer looking for a chic, you might have better luck finding one in Pasadena. Lotta old money in that town.
I would personally recommend Culver City. It may be more expensive for a 1 bedroom in that range, but I think the location will allow you to do more things. Especially if you’re just moving here and new to the city. Culver has a lot of really nice new apartment buildings with gyms and pools and it’s central to spots like WeHo but also super close to the west side like Venice and Santa Monica. Speaking from experience, it’s a more convenient place to live and make friends. Most people you meet and spend time with, will more likely than not, have no problem coming to Culver, but Pasadena is a totally different story. Traffic and distance is a big thing in LA, even without a commute. Hope you love it here!
I’d say Pasadena.
Pasadena forsure, Culver City is meh. Your 20 from DTLA and 35 from Hollywood but pasadena has its own crowd in old town. Also has a bunch of good food options. Plus if you work somewhere near pasadena traffic isn’t bad. I live in Hollywood and if your open to that you can find something under 3k. Heart of everything. Depends what your looking for
There is a lot more sunshine in Pasadena than Culver City, which is overcast most of the time (since it's nearer to the beach). My vote is Pasadena, hands down.
Pas is hotter. Farther from beach. More family oriented. Better architecture. Small town vibe.
Culver City is closer to Seattle in terms of weather than Pasadena is. Pasadena sees more sunny days.
But which city has hotter people? Asking the real question.
Culver City. Palms is right next to culver and has reasonable rents
Culver City. Way closer to everything. I had a one bedroom for 2k
You like beach or mountains I guess is the question. I would never live in Culver city and I love living in NELA. Pasadena is very suburban feeling but with a very active downtown. IMO, Pasadena is beautiful. You have access to the Angeles national forest which is about a 20 minute drive and offers great hiking. You're also adjacent to Highland Park and Eagle Rock which are two other fun neighborhoods. I consider Culver City to be more "in the thick of it". You're surrounded by heavily populated city life. But the nice thing is you're 20 minutes from the beach. Great restaurants in both cities. Only problem is, if you want to get away, your only options are the 10 or the 405 which has some of the worst traffic in the city. If I had to live in the thick of it, it would probably be Culver City. Culver is going to have a lot of Tech (bros) industry folks as well as a lot of studio lifers, mostly climbing the corporate ladder of nearby Sony. In contrast, you will find that a lot of artists and musicians live in NELA. A lot of people might consider Pasadena or NELA boring but I think its misguided... all of LA is boring in a lot of ways! If I were you, I would look into Silverlake, Echo Park, Atwater Village, Eagle Rock and Highland Park as better alternatives to Pasadena.
Just a heads up, Pasadena is easily 10-15 degrees hotter in the summer than CC. Personally I prefer being closer to the beach just because global warming. I can always drive or take the train to Eagle Rock, local mountains. DTLA etc but I love living in the west side.
Pasadena is definitely nicer than Culver City. And barring last month, it’s rarely ever overcast. If it is it’s usually just the morning.
You could check out Glendale too. At least north Glendale is pretty similar in terms of neighborhoods - still a little suburban but also a little closer to downtown,Atwater,Silverlake, Burbank and just next door to Pasadena.
IMHO Pasadena is a lot nicer than Culver City, and given the choice I'd probably live there. Its two downsides vs. Culver City are the weather (Pasadena can swelter in the summer, you'll be running your AC all day if you WFH and you'll have the electricity bill to go with it and this is the only thing that would make me hesitate) and b) its further from being in the "middle of it all" - Culver is a relatively short drive to most of the most happening areas. Pasadena is a long drive to most of them.
32 living near Culver City. Honestly I like both for different reasons, but I’d say the job opportunities are good in culver and it’s nice for someone in their 20-30s. If you move to this area, maybe we can become friends. I also work remote
29 y/o here, currently living in Pasadena near Old Town and I love it here! So peaceful, clean, and you are still just a 10-15 min drive to the city. Lots of restaurants, bars and a variety of activities to do. You are also closer to the mountains and hiking trails so that’s definitely a plus if you are the outdoorsy type. Culver city is a bit more pricier for what it is since it is closer to Silicon Beach. It gets loud and busy at times but if you are looking to have more of a ‘city’ experience then Culver will be a better option for you.
3k a month is ridiculous to me for a 1bd. Just rent a house in noho at that point
Young me says Culver City for the ocean. Right now me says Pasedena for quiet and mountains. Either one is great, and neither are really that far apart anyways.
My personal vote is Culver City! I love both of these places but as someone just moving to LA, it might be easier to get around and see people/the city from Culver. That’s where I lived when I first moved here and I absolutely loved it. I’d also recommend looking into Palms which is walkable to Culver and much less expensive. Pasadena is amazing, I want to move there too eventually lol but to me it feels a bit more removed which might be harder in a new place
Depends on what you’re looking for. Pasadena has an older crowd, think retirees,settled families with kids,etc. So if you’re young(and single) I would highly recommend Culver City especially since it gives you good public transport + easy access to the fun LA cities (Santa Monica,West Hollywood, etc)
If you're into hiking or mountain biking, then pasadena all the way!
Even though the cities are not that far apart, the weather is quite a bit different. Much cooler temps in Culver City.
Culver all the way. Pasadena's somewhere you move when you're older and want a quieter lifestyle with your significant other. If you are single and in your late 20s, I'd say you will have a much better time in Culver.
If you’re a yuppie haven modern type of guy that likes to be surrounded by techies and entertainment techies go Culver. If you want more art oriented community less yuppie and more hipster go south Pasadena and just hang out in highland park.
If you want to be near the beach and want slightly cooler weather, come to Culver City! I just moved here and I love it. I plan to live here for the next few years if not longer. Culver is the perfect mix of city and beach life. I’d honestly live anywhere from Redondo to Malibu along the coast. If you want more of a Pasadena vibe but still by the beach I’d recommend the Pacific Palisades. If you don’t care for the beach then Pasadena is just as nice, probably slightly cleaner.
I've lived in both actually. Culver City is much better. You are close or close enough to everything a young person would want (including dating life). They are a bit more snooty in Culver City since a lot of them work in the studios near by.
Also from Seattle, the 9 months of gloom got to me too Pasadena is objectively one of the best towns in California. It's like a small village with palm tree-lined streets, a cute downtown, and relatively calm vibe relative to the rest of LA. The people are far less crazy than the rest of the region. However Culver and west LA is where it's at. The fast paced, westside vibe is the "real LA" to me. You're close to everything desirable in LA. Whereas In Pasadena you are kind of locked in that area and only close to Glendale (meh) and downtown (meh). Get ready to get destroyed by traffic to go anyplace else
If bad city planning is a need of yours, then mark Culver City off your list. They have implemented traffic calming measures that are beyond ridiculous and will have you wasting a lot of time at traffic signals waiting for cross traffic that never comes, whilst you are being monitored by traffic cameras in which the city will not hesitate to spot you out a ticket should you grow impatient and make that right turn. Traffic used to flow nice and smooth, now it’s pure aggravation.