Best places to live in the Los Angeles metro area

Written by:
July 8, 2025
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Best places to live in the Los Angeles metro area

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in the Los Angeles metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses 15 weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on cost of living, higher education rate, housing, public schools, diversity, and crime. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.

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#25. Sierra Madre

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 11,020

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#24. Claremont

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 36,553

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#23. Aliso Viejo

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 51,320

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#22. Seal Beach

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 24,868

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#21. Yorba Linda

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 67,407

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#20. Torrance

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 143,499

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#19. North Tustin

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 26,038

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#18. Arcadia

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 55,550

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#17. Cerritos

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 48,340

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#16. Palos Verdes Estates

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 13,047

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#15. Newport Beach

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 84,304

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#14. El Segundo

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 16,863

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#13. Rolling Hills Estates

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 8,158

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#12. San Marino

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 12,279

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#11. Rancho Palos Verdes

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 41,259

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#10. Rolling Hills

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 1,511

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#9. Culver City

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 39,993

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#8. Beverly Hills

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 31,955

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#7. La Cañada Flintridge

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 20,094

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#6. South Pasadena

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 26,297

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#5. Manhattan Beach

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 34,584

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#4. Irvine

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 308,160

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#3. Redondo Beach

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 69,814

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#2. Hermosa Beach

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 19,248

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#1. Santa Monica

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 91,535

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