Redondo Beach is an ocean and bedroom community of 55,000 that angles inland. South Redondo boasts 2 miles of sandy beaches for swimming, roller blading, biking, surfing, tanning and walks along glorious sunsets. Condos, apartments and single family homes abound, as do shops, restaurants and small businesses. North Redondo jags inland and has condos and single family homes with well kept yards and good neighbors.

Hermosa means beautiful and that is exactly what it is. Its flat, sandy miles are ideal for sunbathing, volleyball and surfing. It is only 15 blocks from east to west and 40 blocks from north to south with Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) running down the middle. To the west of PCH there is a mix of single homes and apartments, some with ocean views. Many of these tend to be vacation rentals. To the east of PCH the hills rise into middle class and upper middle class neighborhoods of tract homes with custom touches.

El Segundo, a small city of 16,000, is located south of the Los Angeles airport. Its name means second because the second Standard Oil Refinery (now Chevron) was built there in 1917. It has its own school district with percentiles between 70 and 90. In 1997 a 24 million dollar school bond passed. About 25% of its homes were built before 1950, 40% between 1950 and 1970 and the remainder were built in the last 25 years

Carson is a relatively young city. True to its motto, "Future unlimited". it's the 8th largest city in Los Angeles County with a growing population of 89,000. Served by the Los Angeles Unified School District, students rank in 20 to 60th percentile.

Gardena, a city with many trees, Gardena is also known as "The Freeway City" because it's just minutes from LAX, Long Beach Airport, Port of Los Angeles and the Alameda Corridor.

Incorporated in 1922, Hawthorne has been dubbed "Hub of the South Bay" because it has quick and easy access to Southern California offerings such as culture, sports, entertainment, the mountains and the beachÉonly four miles to the Pacific Ocean!

Inglewood, this bedroom city of 117,000 is just east of LAX. Served by the Inglewood Unified School District, school rankings are often between 50-80th percentile. About 70% of the housing was built between 1940 and 1970.

Lawndale, with a population of 30,000 Lawndale is located between Torrance and Hawthorne. Lawndale was designed for veterans getting into the housing market (two and three-bedroom homes) so it's not a fancy city but streets are clean and homes are well cared for.

Lomita is a small, middle-class community of 20,300 squeezed between Torrance and Rolling Hills Estates. Meaning "little hill", most of the city is flat except for the southern section rising into the hills. Incorporated in 1964, about 60% of residential units were built between the 50s and 80s.

Long Beach is the second most populous city in Los Angeles County and the 5th largest city in the state with a population around 442,000. Aerospace is a major employer. Other local employment includes hospitals and medical, city government, tourism, shipping, manufacturing, high tech and retail. About 24 miles from downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach is a short drive from business hub Orange County. Long Beach's light rail service ties into the L.A. Metro and four freeways run through the city. It has its own municipal airport.

Marina Del Rey is an unincorporated city comprised mostly of sail loving people who either live in condos, apartments or on their boats. Construction of the marina breakwater was formally dedicated in 1965. Los Angeles Unified School District serves the area and schools rank between 30 and 70th percentile. Crime is generally low. Lots of nightlife and mostly beautifully tanned single people are everywhere.

There are four cities nestled here: Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills and Rolling Hills Estates. All cities are affluent and served by the Palos Verdes Unified School District with scores in the 90s and high 90th percentile, often the highest in the state. Crime is extremely low to none.

Drive to the end of the 110 (Harbor) Freeway and you come to a jewel of a city--San Pedro. With an estimated population of 72,000 San Pedro borders water and Rancho Palos Verdes. Neighborhoods are middle and working class, some with artistic bents, customized homes and great ocean views.

Torrance, the 4th most populated bedroom city in Los Angeles County, has 141,500 residents. It boomed in the 50's and 60's with mostly three bedroom houses. Newer homes have four or five bedrooms. Two thirds of residents own and the remainder rent. Many streets go all out with trees and flowers. Served by the Torrance Unified School District, education is strongly supported. Most schools rank in the 60 to high 90th percentile. Crime is suburban average.

Venice - when tobacco mogul Abbot Kinney came to California he wanted to copycat Venice Italy. Venice has had a colorful past and present and of all the California beach cities--Venice is easily the most eclectic and funky. Mix it up! Middle class tract single family units, California bungalows, apartments, newer condos and customized beachfront property reflect housing.

Westchester and Playa del Rey - Both cities are within the City of Los Angeles and are served by the Los Angeles Unified School District. Schools rank fairly high, better than 50th percentile and crime, suburban average. Both are just north of the airport but noise is somewhat muted. Estimated population of both cities combined is 50,000.

Wilmington borders a large oil refinery. It may have driven property values down but has kept housing affordable. Most of the housing was built after World War II and the population hovers around 40,000. As part of the City of Los Angeles, it's served by the Los Angeles Unified School District and ranks in the 10th to 50th percentile.