Have you been considering moving to South Pasadena? Do you wonder what it’s like to live in South Pasadena? If so – then this article is for you! If you’d prefer a video tour of the Pros and Cons of South Pasadena – I posted that below.
I have lived in South Pasadena since 1999 and my kids went to school here – from elementary all the way through high school graduation. I have participated in almost all of the community activities here and currently spend my working day immersed in the city and its inhabitants.
Without further ado – let’s get to the Pros and Cons of the City of South Pasadena!
PROS of Living in South Pasadena
South Pasadena Schools consistently rank in the top tier of California’s Public Schools. Amazing academics – incredible extra-curriculars – including fun intellectual pursuits and of course a full complement of top performing sports teams – plus the band and music. The facilities and faculty are top tier as well. Having freely available public schools of the highest caliber is a prized benefit of South Pasadena.
South Pasadena is a geographically small community – just 3 square miles. It’s very walkable in the flat parts and has its own City Government – with it’s own police and fire departments. That keeps South Pasadena safe. It’s still Los Angeles – so I don’t leave my car unlocked when I park it. But being a geographically small area – the police and fire departments are never more than a few minutes away – as they are situated in the center of town.
Being small also makes South Pasadena a tight knit community. There is a very strong “community vibe”.
There are literally TONS of fun South Pasadena activities like the golf course in the Arroyo, tennis and pickleball courts – plus our great parks!! (new grant for pocket parks!) There are multiple athletic fields across the city for AYSO soccer and little league! There are also great facilities open to the public at the High School like the running track, basketball courts and the outdoor pool.
Community wide events are frequent in South Pasadena. There are a variety of community events in the city parks such as: free movie nights, Shakespeare in the Park and free concerts in the summer.
Other community events in South Pasadena include our amazing “small town” 4th of July Parade complete with our own fireworks at the High School each year, the Taste of South Pasadena, South Pasadena Arts Council sponsored event such as gallery openings, art shows and an Arts Crawl in the downtown area every quarter.
One of the bigger events in South Pasadena is the annual Eclectic Music Festival. This event showcases a HUGE number of local music performers, acts, and bands that play on multiple stages throughout the city. It goes on all day and into the night. It’s a big music party for the whole city. There are also street vendors with food and drinks galore.
There is also the South Pasadena Farmer’s Market every Thursday in the center of town where they block off streets and make it pedestrian only. Local farmers bring their produce and edible delicacies to present a true farm-to-table opportunity for local residents.
It’s walkable to so many shops and restaurants here. Open Table lists more than 75 South Pasadena restaurants all a very short distance apart. The city is also adding a brand new refurbished historic building that used to house the school administration. This will add brand new shops, restaurants and entertainment – right in the middle of town.
South Pasadena is a historic city – the city retains much of the architecture from the early 1900’s with provisions (such as the Mills Act) to encourage preservation. This is a big draw in real estate. Buyers love the authentic early architecture, the quality building materials (such as old lumber) and the historic architectural details (original lighting fixtures and built-ins). The entire city also has uniformity in its historic look – as historic buildings are rarely torn down in South Pasadena.
Then there are the trees. We’re talking big mature trees with wide canopies that shade the whole community in summer. South Pasadena maintains an estimated 21,000 trees and is known as a “Tree City USA.” South Pasadena been a part of Tree City USA for over 25 years by meeting the program’s strict requirements. It’s to our benefit that the founders of South Pasadena saw fit to plant so many trees and preserve the California native species. It is an impressive sight to drive down a local street populated by 100 year old trees.
Nearby activities here in Southern California are numerous as well! Close by are SO many great things to see and do. South Pasadena has its own light rail station to get quickly and easily to other parts of Los Angeles. LA’s Professional sports teams are also all close. The Rams close at SoFi Stadium. So are the Dodgers and Lakers. You can catch the local light rail (Metro Rail) and get to Old Town Pasadena for another walkable section of premier shops and restaurants. Highland Park is right next door too – with a huge variety of local artisanal shops plus quirky bars and restaurants. Disneyland is also close. I used to work for the Walt Disney Company so I’ve been there a lot. It’s a fun day for any out of town guests.
Then there is the Tournament of Roses Parade and Football game every New Year’s. The Rose Parade is right next to South Pasadena. The city has it’s own float every year – designed, constructed and worked on by the community and funded through charitable contributions in the city.
Although it’s not a beach city – the Pacific Ocean is easily accessible by car from South Pasadena and offers so many great beach cities to visit! The closest is Manhattan Beach (about 26 miles away) and I love the beaches in Dana Point and Laguna as well as La Jolla.
Cons of Living in South Pasadena
As with all of Los Angeles – there is ample traffic (it can be hard to get around LA). There are also frequent film shoots in and around South Pasadena which can disrupt traffic as well.
Water tends to be expensive here (drought tolerant landscaping is common along with drip irrigation) – as is conservation.
And of course – You pay a real estate and housing premium to live the South Pasadena lifestyle and not everyone can afford it.
Overall – I’d say that the Pros drastically outweigh the Cons in this amazing city. I’ve raised my family here and wouldn’t switch places with anyone – in any other city.
So that’s been a look at the pros and cons of the City of South Pasadena. If you’re interested in learning more about living here – or want to check out the South Pasadena real estate options – reach out anytime and I’ll be glad to share my knowledge with you. If you do come to visit – we’ll be glad to see you.
