Moving to Los Angeles is exciting, thanks to the city’s multitude of distinctions. The city is the center of the country’s film and television industry, and has well over 100 museums. LA recently surpassed New York for having the biggest workforce in the fashion industry, which is impressive since the city has only been around since 1925. Los Angeles County was also the first to surpass more than 10 million residents. Here is your guide to moving to the “City of Angels.”
Nicknames
- “City of Angels” – A translation of Los Angeles in Spanish means “The Angels.”
- “City of Flowers” – This city has warm and sunny weather nearly year-round, which helps sustain the flowers.
- “L.A.” – The shortened version of the city’s name.
Populations Stats
Los Angeles is home to approximately 10,137,915 residents, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The entire state of California has a population of almost 40 million, which means that Los Angeles accounts for over 20 percent of the state’s population.
Attractions, Parks, Landmarks
Some popular spots in the city include:
- OUE Skyspace LA
- Getty Center, Art Museum
- Universal Studios Hollywood
- Walt Disney Concert Hall
- Runyon Canyon
- Santa Monica Pier
- Dodger Stadium
- Rodeo Drive
Colleges and Universities
L.A. has several well-known accredited colleges and universities. Here are a few to consider:
- University of Southern California
- Mount St. Mary’s College
- California State University Los Angeles
- California State University Northridge
- Santa Monica College
- American Jewish University
- California Institute of the Arts
Sports Teams
L.A. is well known for attracting some of the biggest stars in sports entertainment, from Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers to Clayton Kershaw on the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s also the only place that houses two basketball teams under the same roof (Lakers and Clippers).
- Los Angeles Lakers (Basketball)
- Los Angeles Clippers (Basketball)
- Los Angeles Dodgers (Baseball)
- Los Angeles Kings (Hockey)
- Los Angeles Galaxy (Soccer)
- Los Angeles Chargers (Football)
- Los Angeles Rams (Football)
Los Angeles Neighborhoods and Districts
Los Angeles offers a wide selection of places to live. The area has 16 regions you can choose from, including:
- Atwater Village
- Burbank
- Eagle Rock
- Echo Park
- Beverly Hills
- Highland Park
- Encino
- Hollywood
- Los Feliz
Restaurants
When it comes to food, L.A. is known for staying ahead of the food scene. It also has established eateries, such as Bay Cities Deli Italian Deli & Bakery, which has been open for over 80 years. If you like aged beef burgers or smoked salmon pizza, L.A. has it all for you and more. Check out some of the city’s popular restaurants:
- Spago
- Apple Pan
- Father’s Office
- Dan Tana’s
- Guerrilla Tacos
- Petit Trois
- Luv2eat Thai Bistro
- Coni’s Seafood
- Sapp Coffee Shop
Here’s some lists from popular review websites of the most highly-rated restaurants:
- Yelp
- TripAdvisor
- Zagats
Nightlife/Entertainment
Los Angeles is known for one of the most famous comedy clubs, The Laugh Factory, which featured famous comedians, including Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld and Richard Pryor. As far as nightlife goes, L.A. is home to some of the hippest clubs and bars in the country. The live music scene is also second to none, and there’s always a chance you’ll be rubbing elbows with celebrities throughout the city when you venture out to have some fun.
Shopping
If you are looking to for fun shopping options, head to the Fashion District. L.A.’s Fashion District has many small, privately owned shops with well-known brands for you to choose from. Here’s a list of some of the city’s hottest shopping spots.
Schools
Families can choose from private schools, charter schools and public schools in Los Angeles. You can find your local public school based on your address using the Los Angeles Unified School District school directory tool.
Major Cities
Not so far from Los Angeles, you can travel to major city hubs such as San Diego and Anaheim. You can also take several fun and interesting road trips within 500 miles from L.A. as well.
Important City Links
Esri. Discover stats on Los Angeles based on your ZIP code.
DMV/Licenses. Schedule an appointment with the DMV Office of Los Angeles to get your California driver’s license or state ID.
Voting Locations. Find your poParagraphlling place by using the Los Angeles County polling place and sample ballot lookup tool.
Emergency Shelters. In the event of a natural disaster, such as an earthquake, wildfire or mudslide, Los Angeles residents can utilize the NotifyLA mass notification system to stay current on the latest emergency shelters designated by the City of Los Angeles’ Emergency Management Department.
Evacuation Maps for Natural Disasters. Los Angeles has evacuation maps based on the different areas of the city. Use the County of Los Angeles’ Department of Public Works’ Disaster Route Maps for your area to determine the best route to take in case of a natural disaster.
Utilities Companies. Los Angeles residents receive water and power services from The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the Southern California Gas Company, and Southern California Edison.
Trash and Recycling Services. The City of Los Angeles’ Bureau of Sanitation offers weekly trash pickup for yard trimming, household garbage and recyclables; bulk item pick-up; and household appliance pickup services. You can also leverage the city’s drop-off services and locations to discard used tires, hazardous household waste and electronic waste.
Cable and Internet Providers
- AT&T
- Charter Communications
- Charter Spectrum
- Frontier Communications
- Verizon
Lifestyle
Median home prices. The median home price in Los Angeles is $465,000.
Average Income. The median household income in Los Angeles is $57,952.
Largest employers. Some of Los Angeles’ largest employers include the County of Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, the University of California, Los Angeles and Kaiser Permanente.
Metropolitan Map. Know where you’re going in Los Angeles by using this L.A. area map.
National Parks. While Los Angeles does not house a national park within its city limits, the city is close to national recreation areas, including the Santa Monica Mountains.
Clubs. Take part in one of the many community clubs in Los Angeles, including the Los Angeles Boys & Girls Clubs and the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles.
If you’re planning on moving to Los Angeles, learn more about the full suite of moving services that Suddath® offers and receive a free moving quote. You can also read reviews from our customers that we helped move in Los Angeles.
Get a free moving quote