Balanced growth and great schools just east of Pasadena
Arcadia looks similar to many of the suburban cities around it, but its sense of community is like no other. “It balances being a small town and outside of a large metro. It feels more local since people know their neighbors, and we have a lot of small businesses,” says Justine Bruno, the deputy city manager since 2022. “People are also really invested in their community, whether that be families that have lived here for decades or new residents.” Its highly rated school district has attracted international buyers to the area, and many homes have been renovated in the 2010s and 2020s. Still, its population has stayed around 55,000 during this time. “The city has also done a really good job of balancing growth since our start in 1903, and we have a lot of new projects coming,” Bruno says. Downtown Arcadia is the main focus for development in the coming years, especially when it comes to multistory housing. The Derby is a mixed-use development that will add 215 apartments and 5,000 square feet of commercial space; it’s estimated for completion in 2025. Alexan Azalea is a similar development that will add 320 units and an outdoor plaza in 2026.
Arcadia Train Bridge is a really cool sight to see when cruising through the city.
Just a little north is the LA Arboretum a 127-acre botanical garden with lakes & exotic plants.
Chef Tony is an authentic Dim Sum restaurant located in Arcadia.
In Arcadia, residents have access to a wide range of personal services and food options.
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Arcadia Unified: one of America’s top school districts
Niche ranks Arcadia Unified School District in the top 1% nationally and gives it an A-plus. “People live here for the school district,” Bruno says. All 11 of its schools have been considered National Blue Ribbon or California Distinguished, and they serve about 9,500 students. One of these, Arcadia High, gets an A-plus from Niche and had a 99.9% graduation rate in 2024; over 80% of its students are enrolled in one or more advanced classes. This school and the district overall could climb the rankings in the future too. In November 2024, residents approved an increased property tax that will fund a $356 million bond to improve schools. This bond will improve drinking water, enhance security and repair facilities, among other upgrades.
Arcadia High School is a public high school in Arcadia with an A-plus from Niche.
Richard Henry Dana Middle School in Arcadia gets an A+ from niche, with 622 average students
Arcadia has no shortage of top rated schools, such as Rio Hondo School.
First Avenue Middle School is a public school in Arcadia for students 6-8.
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Santa Anita Park: horses, movies and events
Santa Anita Park is central in Arcadia, both literally and culturally. It’s one of the most popular horse racing tracks in the country, with about 40,000 attendees for opening day 2022. Its first race was on Christmas Day 1934, and since then, it’s hosted the 1984 Olympics and 11 Breeder’s Cups. On the big screen, the track has featured Judy Garland in “A Star Is Born” and Chevy Chase in “National Lampoon's Vacation.” The grounds also hosts major community events throughout the year. The most popular of these, the 626 Night Market, fills the parking lots with 250-plus vendors in summer. Held on three-day weekends, the market is inspired by open-air, nighttime bazaars of Asia, and it’s been around since 2012. Japan Family Day comes around in October, and it’s the largest Japanese family event in Southern California. It features cultural exhibitions, taiko drumming and, of course, Japanese food.
During the racetrack season you can go to Santa Anita Racetrack and enjoy the races.
Santa Anita Park horses in Arcadia thunders around the stadium.
Moon Festival at Arcadia offers live traditional performances and shows.
Concerts & Movies in the Park
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The Shops at Santa Anita, Downtown Arcadia
Just south of the racetrack, the Shops at Santa Anita is an indoor mall with over 180 restaurants and shops. It also has a kid-friendly theme park, movie theater and bowling alley. Downtown Arcadia is about a mile east of the mall. Centered around Historic Route 66, this district has drivable strip malls and mostly local businesses.
Enjoy food at the Santa Anita Mall in Arcadia, where the choices are plentiful.
Stop by the AMC movie theaters for the latest movies in Arcadia.
Westfield Mall in Arcadia is a focal point to the city, where you can eat and shop.
The Santa Anita Mall is a great place to eat, drink, and shop in Arcadia.
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Getting outside: Los Angeles Arboretum, San Gabriel Mountains
Arcadia has 14 parks, and many homes are within walking distance. The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is one of the oldest, started as farmland in the 1840s and converted to a park 100 years later. The 125-acre space is known for its tall trees, roaming peacocks and Queen Anne cottage. Wilderness Park has the highest elevation of these parks, and it leads into the San Gabriel Range. Nearby mountains have over 250 miles of trails, and some canyons have waterfalls.
Wildlife can be found all through out Arcadia's Arboretum.
Arcadia Park has it's own lawn bowling league on the weekends.
Families can enjoy Arcadia Park which also has a community pool and large green spaces.
Families enjoy walks at the arboretum in Arcadia.
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High-dollar homes in Arcadia Unified School District
Arcadia’s sought-after school district translates to elevated home values, and the median sale price here is about $1.45 million as of late 2024. That’s roughly $500,000 more than Monrovia and $200,000 more than Pasadena. Arcadia’s prices are up about 9% year-over-year, but that’s the case for most of the surrounding area. Homes on the outskirts of the city can go for less since they might not be in the Arcadia Unified School District. Just north of Interstate 210, mansions built in the 2010s and 2020s are at the top of the market. Homes toward the center of town are closest to Santa Anita Park and the arboretum. Peacocks can roam into neighborhoods, perching on rooftops and pecking across lawns. Their squawks can cause considerable noise.
You can find beautiful well maintained Mediterranean homes in Arcadia.
French Country Estates are located throughout the community of Arcadia.
A stunning mansion in the depths of the Arcadia neighborhood.
There are colorful multi-family complexes in Arcadia.
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Arcadia’s seasons, wildfires and crime rates
Los Angeles is known for its sunshine, and Arcadia gets about 290 sunny days per year. Summers are arid with temperatures in the 80s, while winters are mild in the 60s. The Santa Ana Winds are a dry weather pattern in the area, and they can incite wildfires in the San Gabriel Mountains. In September 2024, the Bridge Fire burned roughly 55,000 acres, and smoke carried into Arcadia.
In 2023, Arcadia had a monthly average of 48 violent offenses per 100,000 people. That’s less than half of both state and national rates. However, the city had a monthly average of 256 property offenses per 100,000 people in the same year. That’s higher than both the state and national rates. Overall crime rates have stayed the same between 2022 and 2023.
Interstate 210 and state Route 164
A part of the Los Angeles metro, Arcadia is a car-centric city. Traffic can back up during rush hour, especially on Interstate 210 and state Route 164. However, these freeways are usually closer to the house than they would be in neighboring San Marino or Alhambra. Downtown Los Angeles is about a 20-mile trip south via the 210 and the 5. Los Angeles International Airport is about 35 miles southwest, taking the 110 most of the way. Other than three bus lines, Arcadia doesn’t have much public transportation. The closest Metrolink station is in El Monte, about 5 miles south.
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