Do you guys prefer DMV or LA

[Anonymous]

Virginia is one of the nicest suburban cities I’ve lived in, but I my DS goes to school in LA, and I absolutely loved it there! The architecture is beautiful, the food is great, so much entertainment, and the people are actually nice (I always hear about Cali being fake). Two of my oldest are currently living elsewhere and the third is likely on her way out, so I could afford a smaller home considering the houses are less for the same amount as here.

So, which area do you prefer and why? What are some pros and cons?

[Anonymous]

I love Los Angeles - especially the west side and beach communities. I was never happy in DC or Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Architecture? Nice? It is fake nice, we are just better at fake. It's such a dump.

[Anonymous]

I like DC proper better, but prefer LA if you are comparing it DC suburbs.

I love LA because of friendly people, non competitive aspect, great food, offbeat style, events and activities and offerings in music, arts etc.

DC wins for me because it's home. I miss fall and winter. I miss seeing the Capitol every day. I love DC architecture: row houses, the mall, the monuments. I love DC! The DC suburbs do not appeal to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Architecture? Nice? It is fake nice, we are just better at fake. It's such a dump.

What don’t you like about it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like DC proper better, but prefer LA if you are comparing it DC suburbs.

I love LA because of friendly people, non competitive aspect, great food, offbeat style, events and activities and offerings in music, arts etc.

DC wins for me because it's home. I miss fall and winter. I miss seeing the Capitol every day. I love DC architecture: row houses, the mall, the monuments. I love DC! The DC suburbs do not appeal to me.

D.C. is nice a state, but everything is so squished together. It’s like New York but without all of the entertainment, just government buildings.

[Anonymous]

I'm a native Californian and have been living in LA since 1998. I'm on the Westside.

A couple of years ago, we lived in N. Arlington for a couple years--we knew it was temporary and that we were going back to LA, and now we are back.

So, I loved Arlington. Before and after our Virginia experience, I live/lived in a neighborhood that looks like Arlington, but here, to have that kind of neighborhood, you have to make a lot more money. So in Arlington, our neighbors ranged from working professionals to tree trimmers and some military etc. I loved my neighbors and the parents in our kids' Catholic elementary. The neighborhood was definitely nanny-light or nonexistent. In my neighborhood in LA, my neighbors are in finance or entertainment and there are a lot of nannies and housekeepers.

I had a very hard time with the weather in VA, but you are coming from the east and so probably used to functioning when it is too cold/too hot/too muggy, so get ready to be blown out by great weather and not sweating in your non-workout clothes.

I'm assuming your DC is in college out here. If your youngest will need to finish up school out here, lmk and I can discuss high schools which are different than Virginia

I loved that VA was purple so politicians actually care about outcomes and voters have a say. In contrast, California is a one-party state, and LA is also one-party, so no matter what elected officials do, they will not be held accountable. So that is a problem as they just proclaim things and decide things--some insane things! --and we really can't do anything to redirect them. The problem isn't Democrat control; it would be the same if it were Republicans. The problem is one-party total and complete dominance which leads to unaccountability.

Where would you like to live? What school is your DC in?

[Anonymous]

No question- my life in LA is much better than the DMV. It doesn’t have to do with the weather, although year round nice weather is certainly a perk. It is the laid back vibe, the friendly people, the ability to go to the ocean, mountains, desert. I love LA - and I know people like to hate on it- but it’s a city that has so much to offer. And again, the people are so nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a native Californian and have been living in LA since 1998. I'm on the Westside.

A couple of years ago, we lived in N. Arlington for a couple years--we knew it was temporary and that we were going back to LA, and now we are back.

So, I loved Arlington. Before and after our Virginia experience, I live/lived in a neighborhood that looks like Arlington, but here, to have that kind of neighborhood, you have to make a lot more money. So in Arlington, our neighbors ranged from working professionals to tree trimmers and some military etc. I loved my neighbors and the parents in our kids' Catholic elementary. The neighborhood was definitely nanny-light or nonexistent. In my neighborhood in LA, my neighbors are in finance or entertainment and there are a lot of nannies and housekeepers.

I had a very hard time with the weather in VA, but you are coming from the east and so probably used to functioning when it is too cold/too hot/too muggy, so get ready to be blown out by great weather and not sweating in your non-workout clothes.

I'm assuming your DC is in college out here. If your youngest will need to finish up school out here, lmk and I can discuss high schools which are different than Virginia

I loved that VA was purple so politicians actually care about outcomes and voters have a say. In contrast, California is a one-party state, and LA is also one-party, so no matter what elected officials do, they will not be held accountable. So that is a problem as they just proclaim things and decide things--some insane things! --and we really can't do anything to redirect them. The problem isn't Democrat control; it would be the same if it were Republicans. The problem is one-party total and complete dominance which leads to unaccountability.

Where would you like to live? What school is your DC in?

Anything within $750k-$1million, I was thinking Woodland Hills? My DC goes to UCLA. Thank you so much for this informative post. I have to ask, why come on this site? Isn’t there an LA urban moms site?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No question- my life in LA is much better than the DMV. It doesn’t have to do with the weather, although year round nice weather is certainly a perk. It is the laid back vibe, the friendly people, the ability to go to the ocean, mountains, desert. I love LA - and I know people like to hate on it- but it’s a city that has so much to offer. And again, the people are so nice.

People obviously hate on it out of jealously. My only gripe is the traffic and overpopulation, but it’s nothing compared to New York.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a native Californian and have been living in LA since 1998. I'm on the Westside.

A couple of years ago, we lived in N. Arlington for a couple years--we knew it was temporary and that we were going back to LA, and now we are back.

So, I loved Arlington. Before and after our Virginia experience, I live/lived in a neighborhood that looks like Arlington, but here, to have that kind of neighborhood, you have to make a lot more money. So in Arlington, our neighbors ranged from working professionals to tree trimmers and some military etc. I loved my neighbors and the parents in our kids' Catholic elementary. The neighborhood was definitely nanny-light or nonexistent. In my neighborhood in LA, my neighbors are in finance or entertainment and there are a lot of nannies and housekeepers.

I had a very hard time with the weather in VA, but you are coming from the east and so probably used to functioning when it is too cold/too hot/too muggy, so get ready to be blown out by great weather and not sweating in your non-workout clothes.

I'm assuming your DC is in college out here. If your youngest will need to finish up school out here, lmk and I can discuss high schools which are different than Virginia

I loved that VA was purple so politicians actually care about outcomes and voters have a say. In contrast, California is a one-party state, and LA is also one-party, so no matter what elected officials do, they will not be held accountable. So that is a problem as they just proclaim things and decide things--some insane things! --and we really can't do anything to redirect them. The problem isn't Democrat control; it would be the same if it were Republicans. The problem is one-party total and complete dominance which leads to unaccountability.

Where would you like to live? What school is your DC in?

You sound like a covert Republican. Your political point is bizarre. Arlington is a one party rule county. VA it’s trending permanent blue, but it’s not there yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No question- my life in LA is much better than the DMV. It doesn’t have to do with the weather, although year round nice weather is certainly a perk. It is the laid back vibe, the friendly people, the ability to go to the ocean, mountains, desert. I love LA - and I know people like to hate on it- but it’s a city that has so much to offer. And again, the people are so nice.

People obviously hate on it out of jealously. My only gripe is the traffic and overpopulation, but it’s nothing compared to New York.

The smog and earthquake threats and wildfires kind of suck too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No question- my life in LA is much better than the DMV. It doesn’t have to do with the weather, although year round nice weather is certainly a perk. It is the laid back vibe, the friendly people, the ability to go to the ocean, mountains, desert. I love LA - and I know people like to hate on it- but it’s a city that has so much to offer. And again, the people are so nice.

People obviously hate on it out of jealously. My only gripe is the traffic and overpopulation, but it’s nothing compared to New York.

Overpopulation is what did it for me. Trash everywhere, once you take a step outside your smaller cleaner town. Dirty streets and air. Road rage. DMV is not better, just like any other overpopulated area. Nobody is laid back in LA, unless we need to redefine laid back. You are not laid back if you have to smoke every day to deal with it all (work, life, etc), you are stoned. Very strong opinions, strong reaction, extreme political correctness. I do prefer LA over DMV, but that's not saying much. I like the weather and wearing flip-flops year round. Living in both is only to earn money and be done with it. It feels like a permanent plan B.

[Anonymous]

To PP who was LA native- what’s your opinion re schools? Please do tell all! We recently moved to LA and lur kids are still young but love nay insight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To PP who was LA native- what’s your opinion re schools? Please do tell all! We recently moved to LA and lur kids are still young but love nay insight.

I'm not PP, but what part of LA are you in? Where is your office? If you can easily afford private schools do that. If you can't, move to an area that has good public schools. (South Bay, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Palisades, Culver City, Burbank, South Pasadena, La Creacenta, and points west Calabasas, Agoura, Oak Park, Thousand Oaks) That's my opinion!