Located in South Bay, which is towards the southwestern region of Los Angeles County, is the city of Gardena. It’s famous for being the former berry capital of SoCal, but is best known today as the “Freeway City,” since it’s surrounded by popular freeways in nearly every direction (Interstate 110, Route 91, and Interstate 405). The diverse city spans a total area of approximately six square miles, and it’s filled with lush gardens, quality eateries, and deep historical roots, which is typically appealing to the city’s longtime residents. If you’re someone who is new to Los Angeles, but looking to move to a great and affordable community near the city, Gardena is a worthy place to consider living in.

Here are five reasons why you should live in Gardena.

Close to the Beach

Aerial photo taken from above Redondo Beach Pier photo by Shutterstock

While there are several neighborhoods near Los Angeles that aren’t beach-accessible, Gardena isn’t one of them. Even though the city isn’t exactly on the Pacific Coast, Gardena is within a 20-minute drive of Redondo Beach Pier, Manhattan Beach Pier, Hermosa Beach, and Dockweiler State Beach. These beaches all offer their own distinct character for any kind of beach lover. Manhattan Beach is great for city dwellers who enjoy walking through boutique shops before hitting the beach, while Redondo Beach offers visitors a quieter, less hectic version of Manhattan Beach. Meanwhile, Hermosa Beach features a glamorous and spacious bike path called The Strand, perfect for both pedestrians and cyclists. Finally, Dockweiler is known for its fire pits, which are great for bonfires and barbeques by the beach. Residents in Gardena enjoy the convenience of being able to easily travel to any of these beaches.

Quality Restaurants and Markets

Photo courtesy of El Antojito Taco Truck

From taco trucks and paleta shops to specialty markets and dim sum, Gardena has a little bit of everything when it comes to food, and it’s a great neighborhood to live in if you’re a foodie. Head to Figueroa Street and you’ll find the famous El Antojito Taco Truck, which offers traditional fanfare from carne asada tacos, frescas con crema, ceviche, and more. Another favorite is the specialty market Dat Moi Supermarket on Crenshaw Boulevard, which sells quality goat, oxtail, and beef neck for those who enjoy concocting their own exotic recipes. For traditional, cart-style dim sum, many Los Angeles residents enjoy visiting Sea Empress at Redondo Beach Boulevard, which is great for individuals who want to experience authentic Asian food without going all the way to San Gabriel Valley. 

Proximity to LAX Airport

LAX Airport

There are pros and cons to living close to the airport. If you are a frequent traveler, living in Gardena is the next best place to live in besides El Segundo if you want to stay close to the airport without the headache of being too close. Gardena is far enough away from the Los Angeles International Airport to avoid the noise and pollution from incoming and outgoing planes as well as avoiding the steep home prices from being close to an airport. However, it’s still close enough to experience a reduced airport commute time by at least half an hour compared to other neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Its central location truly offers traveling professionals the best of both worlds.

Affordable Real Estate

Beautiful clear sky and the hilly neighborhood in California 

According to Data USA, a platform that collects government data, real estate and home ownership statistics for Gardena compared to Los Angeles show that living in Gardena might be more affordable for homeowners. While the median home price for residences in Los Angeles is approximately $593,5000 with a home ownership rate of nearly 36 percent, Gardena’s median home price is approximately $372,500 with an ownership rate of 50 percent, which is considerably more affordable. According to Neighborhoods.com, there are 156 home listings currently available for Gardena. Popular communities within Gardena include residential areas near Artesia Boulevard as well as Western Avenue and 166th Street.

Plenty of Shopping Centers

Photo courtesy of South Bay Galleria Redondo Beach

From shopping plazas and gallerias to strip malls and streets filled with boutique shops, Gardena has plenty of opportunities for shoppers. Some of Gardena’s most popular shopping centers include Gardena Gateway Center, Seoul Plaza, Gardena Valley Shopping Center, and many more that offer a variety of restaurants, bakeries, clothing, shoes, and trinkets. If these amenities don’t suffice, there are other impressive shopping centers in the South Bay neighborhoods surrounding Gardena as well, such as Torrance and Redondo.