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Sylmar, Los Angeles, CA

Name: Sylmar, Los Angeles, CA
Rating: 2.6

Population: 80,559

Key findings

Sylmar has a Livability Score of 56_/100, which is considered poor
Sylmar crime rates are 39% lower than the Los Angeles average
Cost of living in Sylmar is 10% lower than the Los Angeles average
Sylmar real estate prices are 31% lower than the Los Angeles average
Rental prices in Sylmar are 22% higher than the Los Angeles average

Best Places to Live in and Around Sylmar

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Compare Los Angeles, CA Livability

What do the locals think about Sylmar?

30%Family friendly 30%Public transit is accessible 30%Walkable to grocery stores 10%Yards are well-kept 60%Lots of parks 10%Walkable to restaurants 40%Friendly neighbors 10%Safe at night 50%Pet friendly 30%Streets have sidewalks 40%A quiet area 10%Sense of community

Based on 10 votes from AreaVibes users. See all Sylmar poll results.

Sylmar Real estate & Rental prices

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Sylmar Demographics

Population80,559 Median Age33.8 Have Kids (under 18)49%

See more Sylmar demographic data

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Sylmar Reviews

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Foothill Community in the San Gabriel Mountains

Attractions5/10

Community5/10

Nightlife1/10

Dining2/10

Shopping2/10

While the boundaries of Sylmar inter-weave through the northeastern lower levels of the San Gabriel mountain range, the town itself is actually quite small. Santa Ana winds, unlicensed/uninsured recklessly negligent drivers, illegal usage of fireworks, illegal dumping, petty lawlessness, homelessness and a lack of public resources (in general) are all significant problems in Sylmar. Accessibility to public transportation and gas/food/lodging is better in the areas South of the 210-fwy. Areas North of the freeway are much quieter, but more at risk from predatory wildlife and brush fires. There is very little police presence in Sylmar, so your quality of life will depend on your neighbors. If your neighbors are law-breakers who party hard and loud every weekend, you'll get little to no help from law enforcement and will probably hate living in Sylmar.

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Sylmar, CA: Small town California charm

Attractions7/10

Community8/10

Nightlife5/10

Dining5/10

Shopping5/10

Growing up in Sylmar, CA, which borders on the city of San Fernando, CA, between the 118 and 210 freeways, I got used to hearing many people refer to it as a hub of earthquake activity. After all, it was famous for the 1971 trembler, so no one bothered to know it also for its positive attributes also. Sylmar has more going for it than a lot of people recognize.

The best part of Sylmar is its ethnic diversity. It is not a cookie-cutter city by any means. While there are a large amount of Spanish-speaking residents, there are also Asian folks, as well as American Indian and African-American families as well. With this diverse culture, nothing is ever boring about this city.

In terms of its cost of living, it is easily one of the more affordable areas in Southern California to live. The cost of an average single-family home is 45 percent less than the Los Angeles average, and a little less than 32 percent of the California average. This makes it a good place for one to buy their first home.

Crime in Sylmar, CA, however, is not non-existent. While it is still safer than a quarter of other Los Angeles area neighborhoods, its index for property-related crimes is still approximately 35 percent higher than the Los Angeles average. This can sometimes give someone thinking about relocating here pause, but they really need not worry too much. There are still over three police officers per every 1000 people in this city, so should there be any crime-related issues in your neighborhood; police response is still fairly quick and dependable.

In terms of shopping, you are honestly best served by driving to neighboring Glendale or Burbank, so I won't say this is a highpoint. If you are a Mexican food fan, you won't find better than El Chaparral Mexican Restaurant. Critics always single out their margaritas as some of the best in town, and I couldn't agree more.

For summertime fun, one does not need to go far before hitting one of Sylmar's best-known secrets - Hansen Dam Park. This place is a haven for scenic walking trails and swimming, with an aquatic center there that is a popular place to come to for relief from the dry summer heat. For children, the playground there has been completed renovated, so is a wonderful place for those with young children to visit. Prior to moving to Burbank, I visited this playground with my daughter many times and enjoyed it each time we came.

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Source: The Sylmar, Los Angeles, CA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the 2016 United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).