Situated directly off I-10 about 10 miles east of Los Angeles is Alhambra, a scenic suburb with its sights set on smart growth that is not looking to outdo neighboring San Gabriel in terms of development. “We have a quaint downtown that stretches a few blocks along Main Street and is a happening walkable stretch,” says Andrew Ho, director of community development with the city. “We also have a great school district, well-maintained parks and a distinct sense of community.” Located across 710 Freeway from Cal State, Los Angeles, Alhambra is an aspiring college town that has rezoned a lot of real estate in recent years to allow for additional residential housing. “We really want to take advantage of our proximity to the university,” Ho says. Though it has a cost of entry near $1 million, Alhambra offers a significant discount in housing compared to its much more expensive neighbors in South Pasadena and San Marino. Known as the “City of Homes,” Alhambra boasts beautiful neighborhoods and troves of historic homes designed in most every popular style over the last 100 years. From early 20th century architecture to contemporary offerings, homes in the city appeal to a wide range of tastes and budgets. In the northwestern corner of the city sits the character rich Bean Tract, an affluent historic neighborhood with well-manicured lawns and property values that have almost doubled in the last two decades. “The city is currently working on a historic preservation ordinance aimed at preserving some of the older homes, and the community’s charm and quaintness,” Ho says. While there is little development of new single-family homes, Alhambra continues to grow with stacked and individual townhomes, condos and apartments. “We have about 6,800 units in development,” Ho says. The Alhambra Unified School district is well above average with an A grade from Niche, and an A-plus in college prep. In the top 15% of all California districts, every school in the community is graded a B or better. Overall, the district is stable financially, but budget cuts from the state due to declining enrollment are trickling down to the local level and no district is immune. There are walkable elementary schools spread across Alhambra, with a higher concentration to the north of I-10. One of the top 100 high schools in the state, Mark Keppel has a graduation rate of over 96% and routinely wins or places high in academic competitions like the Science Olympiad and the Academic Decathlon. Though city officials say they aren’t leaning into development as hard as nearby communities, there are still many shopping and dining destinations in Alhambra. “What they’re doing in San Gabriel is our proof of concept for the future, but we don’t want to get quite that big,” Ho says. There is a cluster of retail near Main Street and Palm Avenue that includes a Costco, Target and an ALDI, which cover groceries and essentials. “Our recent crown jewels is Alhambra Place, which is anchored by a Sprouts Farmers Market,” Ho says. Known for standout Asian fare, Alhambra is home to many independent chain restaurants. “Yang’s Kitchen is highly regarded and somewhere you’re probably going to run into someone you know,” Ho says. “The ownership also provides a living wage salary to their employees, so you are eating quality food and also feel like socially you’re helping the people who work there.” Fosselman's Ice Cream is another institution, known as the best ice cream in the San Gabriel Valley. In addition to the six community parks maintained by the city, Alhambra is driving distance to some of the best outdoor amenities in the region, including hiking in Angeles National Forest directly to the north and fishing and biking at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area slightly south. “Almansor Park is one of our standouts with world-class golfing and banquet facility next door,” Ho says. The park hosts the annual 4th of July celebration and has a pedestrian track that is heavily used most days. “Alhambra Park is the other big one because it has the pool facility and an amphitheater for concerts,” Ho says. The city coordinates Weekly Farmers markets, activities for children and seniors and a largescale aquatics program. For a city of its size, Alhambra has an outsized impact on arts and culture thanks to a seasonal resident of the past. In the 1930s and ‘40s, Champion Place was home to eight of the most prominent names in American art, including Norman Rockwell. The iconic illustrator moved west to live with cartoonist Clyde Forsythe after his first marriage failed in 1930. The dynamic group of artists often sketched together at night because they all shared the same enthusiasm for moonlight, and they would use miner’s helmets for illumination. When he wasn’t painting, Rockwell reportedly rode his bicycle through town looking for engaging faces to capture. These days, the artists are long gone, but several homes retain the studios and meditative setting that spawned an era. The city, a regular backdrop for television and film, remains committed to public art and has passed an ordinance to encourage projects. The city of Alhambra is very transparent about criminal activity – it posts three years’ worth of monthly stats on its website. A broad look reveals a relatively safe city that is well below the national average in terms of violent crime and about on par with the national numbers in property crime. Alhambra stacks up favorably compared to nearby communities and is safter than Monterey Park, South Pasadena, Rosemead and Montebello – and significantly safer than Pasadena. “We have community-based policing and a high-tech approach safety,” Ho says. One hot spot residents need to be wary of is vehicle thefts, which happen at twice the national rate. Located about 10 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles via I-10, Alhambra is no stranger to heavy traffic. “Population is declining a little locally, but residents aren’t necessarily feeling that on the roadways because there’s still quite a bit of traffic,” Ho says. “We also get a lot of cut-through traffic from other communities.” According to Ho, the city is constantly making updates to its infrastructure and working with the county on transportation needs. “We are increasing crosswalk visibility and working on traffic signal efficiency, and we’re close to implementing a comprehensive master bike plan throughout town.” Alhambra is about 30 miles from Los Angeles International Airport, but the drive can take over an hour depending on conditions. In addition to public transportation options offered by the county, Alhambra Community Transit is a local shuttle bus connects passengers to schools, parks, shopping centers, restaurants and public facilities, including Cal State University Los Angeles, the Metrolink Station and MTA Busway. A concrete jungle in every direction, Alhambra has less of a wildfire risk than much of Southern California, but the dry vegetation driven by the Santa Ana winds can still create dangerous conditions. There is also an earthquake threat, with routine rumbling the norm across Southern California. The city works hard to mitigate risk by clearing vegetation and promoting public safety among its residents. Rising temperatures are Alhambra’s most pressing concern, with the strength and duration of summer heat waves growing. Learn more on the Alhambra city guide.