At the OP’s price range, one can get a larger Craftsman, Spanish or Arts & Crafts home of 1400-2200 sf on a larger-than-std lot. I even saw one property in there in prestigious “Pasadena Highlands” (Historical District) that could possibly qualify for Mills Act tax treatment if some of the (visible to the front) and interior silly things that were done to it over the years were restored:
For example, acc to Mapquest, it is 13 to 15.5 miles (2 short routes) to the Dtn Temple Street Justice Complex one way from the above address. I don’t know about available public transportation from there but if I was moving to LA with the OP’s price range, that’s where I would go without a second thought. My second choice would be Claremont. Both cities are very beautiful and well-kept maintaining their values with Pasadena a real standout.
Also, I had friends from SD who accepted jobs in LA who raised their families in Flintridge/La Canada and also Hacienda Heights and were very pleased. However their kids grew up in the nineties and I don’t know how it is there now, nor am I familiar with the SFR price ranges in these communities.
My kid has a friend who moved to West Covina last year from the Sweetwater District (SD Co) and she was impressed with the (VERY well-equipped) HS there:
