Living in Lancaster
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8/6/2006
My husband and I moved here 15 years ago to get out of the smog and city congestion and have been please with out decision. The Antelope Valley has beautifully clean air, and you can see the stars at night FOREVER! In the summer, it's hotter than the San Fernando Valley, but much less humid. Most of LA suffers in the spring ("May gray" and "June gloom") and in the fall (same thing) with a marine layer which makes the air very thick with smog, making the weather gloomy. But in the AV, the Spring and Fall are the most wonderful times of the year, with clear air and views for miles. The sky is "bluer" than in the San Fernando Valley. The wind blows frequently, which keeps the air clear. In the winter, snow caps the surrounding peaks, and the views are gorgeous. Occasionally it snows in town, but the snow never lasts more than 24 hours. We have four "real" seasons. Sunsets are exceptional!
The lower-cost housing attracts a younger crowd, primarily first-time homebuyers. Because of the youth of the residents, there is a higher divorce rate, higher child abuse rate, higher juvenile delinquency rate, higher young adult crime rate, etc., typical for a younger crowd.
Real estate is dramatically less expensive here than in San Fernando Valley, with larger and more modern homes and larger lots. It is not uncommon to have a quarter-acre lot. Lots of room for kids to play! The Antelope Valley is a melting pot of ethnicity, like L.A. If you're looking for a single-race neighborhood, this is not it. However, if you're looking for diversity, this is the place. This is a great place to raise kids without going bankrupt, while earning the higher incomes the "city" creates. And, because it's a hour away from the San Fernando Valley, when you go out of town for the weekend (Las Vegas, Eastern Sierra, etc.), you have a jump on the outbound traffic. There are plenty of good paying local jobs, particularly in aerospace and L.A. County, so commuting is not a necessity. This is a great place to get your work years in, then get your pension, sell your house high, and move to the boondocks, buy a replacement house and have money left over in the bank.
Lancaster is a college town with Antelope Valley College (2-year) and a branch of Cal State Bakersfield located intown. The Antelope Valley is tops for athletics, particularly soccer.
Susan | Lancaster, CA