Frequently Asked Questions about Los Angeles
Yes, some neighbourhoods are truly dangerous with sky high crime rates. These are located mainly in parts of East and South LA and although lower property rates make them tempting they should be avoided, especially with a family.
Yes, probably more than in any other city. Distances between districts of the city are long and a bad public transport system can take hours for longer commutes. People in LA are infamous for driving even short distances. A metro rail and subway are both in use but do not go to all districts.
White non-Hispanic and Hispanic populations are almost equally represented in population. About 42 percent of the population speaks Spanish, about the same percentage of English speakers. Many, of course, speak both. Many neighbourhoods are primarily Spanish speaking. It is not necessary to speak Spanish but it can be a big help and a good way for expats to meet new people.
Commutes really depends on the time of day and where one is going. Rush hour traffic can be absurd and its a good idea to leave for work before 7am when traffic is heavy until noon. Then it becomes heavy again in the afternoon until 7pm. Going across the city can take well over an hour but the average commute time is more like half an hour each way.
