Where is the best place to live for a young 26 year old professional in Southern California?

Orange County

California isn't fit for human habitation. But that's just an opinion based on personal experience.

Well, Southern California is quite an overrated place in my oppinion. I've lived in Neport Beach, Palos Verdes, and Riverside. I've recently moved to Fairhope Alabama and just love it here. It's professional, quaint, affordable and the weather is great. Oh there are hurracanes, yes, but if ya don't live on the bay it's a great place to live, meet people, raise a family and the real estate is still affordable. Just a suggestion.

Choices, choices. It's nice being young and professional, isn't it? Many of the suggestions already given are quite valid, so you can start there. Just a couple of thoughts on the matter: As we saw in Blacksburg, VA, yesterday, safety is a perception, not necessarily a reality. If you had asked the students at Va Tech on Sunday if theirs was a safe campus, I'm sure 90% or more would have said yes. Anyone can go off at any time. Don't know where you are coming from, but LA is quite different from many other cities because of its sheer size. With that in mind, I believe you should just start by moving into some temporary digs, like the Oakwood Apartments. There are many of them scattered around SoCal, but you might want to start at the ones in Burbank on Barham Blvd. It's close to the Hollywood scene, if you so desire. There are also "Extended Stays" all over SoCal. Just get a place close to your job, so you don't have to spend a lot of time on the freeways. There are a lot of areas to check out, from Brentwood, Westwood, and Santa Monica on the west side, to Eagle Rock, Pasadena, Silverlake, and Arcadia on the East side, Burbank, Encino, Woodland Hills and Chatsworth in the Valley, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Playa Del Rey, Marina Del Rey, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes, and Torrance in the South Bay, and that's just in LA County. In the OC, you should check out Huntington Beach, Irvine, Newport Beach, Brea, Lake Forest, and anywhere in South County. More inland, you have Laverne, San Dimas, and Diamond Bar. That should be enough to get you started. Be sure to personally visit an apartment before signing anything. Good luck, and welcome.

South Orange County is beautiful, safe, clean, and has the best weather in the country. However, it's expensive, so make sure you plan on making enough money to cover your rent, gasoline, etc. I would suggest Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, or Laguna Hills. Laguna Beach is stunning, but very pricey. You will love it here! I travel all the time, and have yet to find a place more comfortable to live than South Orange County.

Oceanside is considered a bargain in a very expensive region, and it's on the beach.

hi, im a southern california native and want to be among the first few to welcome you to california....ok los angeles is nice you cant go wrong with orange county or down south san diego...which is a bit pricey...now what kind of profession are you in. do you want beaches, do you want night life, do you want a great community...los angeles, orange county and san diego can boast with the best with all and more to offer. the desirable cities i can tell you. what are you looking to pay rent wise...avg rent for 1 bedroom 1 bath $1050-1100. email me for more information and i can guide you to what county you could be at and still manage and enjoy your life style...it is too much too list...some of the cities are as follows west la...beverly hills, bel air, westwood, malibu, santa monica, culver city south bay area as follows, palos verdes, rolling hills, torrance, redondo beach, manhattan beach, lomita. then you come south to the long beach area...i would say cerritos or artesia and thats where orange county begins...1 of the wealthiest counties in the nation...it has to the north la palma, cypress. then heading south you get south coast metro area, costa mesa, newport, laguna etc...and theres more counties it just depends, if you shoot me an email with specifics i can correctly and accuratley guide you further. best wishes and good luck on the move...

Burbank is great because it's VERY safe, there's a good amount of jobs, there's a LOT to do, it's close to everything, rent is OK, it's a pretty city compared to some. All around nice place, particularly above Glenoaks Street.

Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Burbank, Woodland Hills, Canoga Park, West Hollywood, really depends on the city you want to move to and where your starting your job? But these locations are pretty expensive, like Studio City a town home goes for 700 grand the least, and maybe a one bedroom.