Did you know that Montebello means beautiful hills in Italian? It was given this name by the man who designed the town’s water system. Perhaps it was given this name after the Italian man who, at one point, owned much of the land that would become Montebello. Perhaps it was because of the beautiful berries and flowers that the area was famous for. Either way, we think it’s a great name for a great city.
There’s much more to learn about this special city. We’ve put together a list of everything you need to know about this city.
Weather
Dining
Shopping
Outdoor Recreation
Local Attractions
What’s in the Area?
Schools
Jobs
Cost of Living
Culture
Transportation
Weather
Much like most of Southern California, Montebello enjoys a very pleasant climate year round. Summers do tend to be very hot and arid but relatively short. Because Montebello is farther inland than most Southern California cities, it doesn’t benefit as much from the cooling factor of the Pacific Ocean.
Rain isn’t a frequent occurrence in most regions of southern California, but it makes itself especially scarce in Montebello. There’s only an average of 14 days of precipitation throughout the year, most of it falling in the winter months.
Summer temperatures average around the mid to high 80s, with temperatures in the 90s fairly common. Temperatures above 96 are very rare but possible. Winter temperatures are mild, ranging from the mid-40s to the high 60s. Spring and autumn fall somewhere in between, with fall being drier.
Interested in the current weather? Here’s the 10-day forecast for Montebello, CA.
Dining
Montebello restaurants are as diverse as its residents. No matter what kind of food you’re looking for, you won’t have to go far to find it. Most popular restaurants are found in shopping and entertainment centers, but there are plenty of mom and pop restaurants in any given street corner serving fresh, authentic food at a great price. Because of the rich Mexican-American heritage of the area, Mexican food is especially delicious and abundant.
Salvatore Italian Restaurant – This is a family-owned and operated restaurant serving authentic southern Italian cuisine in a comfortable atmosphere where customers are treated like family. Their menu includes a wide variety of pizza, pasta, meats, and salads.
Polly’s Pies Restaurant and Bakery – This popular Southern California restaurant is famous for its delicious, fresh pies served whole or by the slice. Despite its name, Polly’s serves pancakes, burgers, sandwiches, fried chicken, and plenty of other classic diner dishes—but a warm slice of pie is the perfect way to end your meal.
Arry’s Super Burgers – In the mood for chili cheese fries? Pastrami? You’re in luck! Arry’s Super Burgers is well known for these two dishes, but they also serve a wide variety of breakfast burritos, omelets, and combo meals. Arry’s has been serving food in Montebello for nearly two decades, so the menu is time-tested. Stop by to treat yourself to some delicious food.
Shopping
Montebello is a great place to be if you love shopping. There are several huge shopping areas, all within a few miles of each other. Between the shopping centers below, there are several hundred different department stores, restaurants, and boutique shops to choose from.
The Shops at Montebello – This shopping center has over 120 different shops and restaurants, making it one of the top shopping destinations in the area.
Montebello Town Square – The square is home to Big Lots, Petco, an AMC movie theater, and more.
Montebello Plaza – This retail location has restaurants, stores, professional services, and more.
Outdoor Recreation
Montebello may be right at the heart of a large metropolitan area, but there are still opportunities to get outside and enjoy nature. Montebello has lots of great city parks and is near some large natural areas that give residents a place to relax and interact with the natural world while having fun with friends and family.
Montebello City Park – A city park sounds like it should be small, but this park is huge. It has a full-size pool, tennis courts, a skate park, an outdoor stage and seating area, and a playground for children. It’s a popular spot for local community events like car shows and farmers markets.
Montebello Barnyard Zoo – This outdoor attraction is the perfect place to bring your family, especially if you have young children. The zoo hosts plenty of barnyard animals, including goats, llamas, horses, cows, and more. Children have the option of going on pony or tractor rides or a merry-go-round, mining for stones, and simply enjoying a variety of beverages and snacks.
Whittier Narrows Recreation Area – This 1,492-acre recreational area is one of the biggest and most popular in Los Angeles County. It features lakes and water features full of ducks and geese, paddle boats for rent, children’s play places, and plenty of green spaces to play and relax on.
Local Attractions
Art lovers, swimmers, gamblers, nature lovers, and all sorts of other people will fall in love with the local Montebello attractions. There’s so much to do and see in Montebello, CA!
Commerce Casino – This casino is one of the biggest card rooms in the world. It’s a popular destination for gambling, and the hotel provides spectacular accommodations, a spa, and plenty of space for events such as weddings and conferences. Just minutes from downtown Los Angeles, the Commerce Casino is a great destination for visitors and residents alike.
Vincent Price Art Museum – Host to a variety of different exhibitions, the Vincent Price Art Museum is a great place to go to connect with the ancient people of the area and the art they left behind. Their permanent exhibition, titled “Form and Function in the Ancient Americas,” includes pieces of art at the intersection of form and function. Check back to see their current and upcoming exhibitions.
George Hensel Aquatic Center – There’s nothing better than cooling off in a swimming pool on a hot summer day. The pool at the George Hensel Aquatic Center is kept sparklingly clean and is staffed by lifeguards who take safety seriously, and swimming lessons are also offered. Come early during free swim times if it’s especially hot; the pool fills up fast!
What’s in the Area?
Want a change of scenery? There’s plenty to do outside of Montebello’s city limits. Los Angeles is about 20 minutes away, traffic permitting, and Long Beach is only 40 minutes to the south, which means a quick trip to the beach is very possible.
Directly to the east is a section of hills that offer great hiking, scenic drives, and amazing views of the valley below.
To the north are Pasadena and the Angeles National Forest, which offers tons of great outdoor activities.
Schools
Montebello Unified School District has over 24,000 students and a student-to-teacher ratio of 26:1. There are dozens of schools serving K–12 students throughout the city, but no universities or community colleges are within the city limits. However, there are several community colleges in the surrounding areas.
Because Montebello is so close to Los Angeles, residents are able to commute to any one of the many universities within the city.
Here’s more about the schools in Montebello, CA.
JOBS
There are plenty of jobs to be had in Montebello, CA. Some of the city’s largest employers are Kaiser Permanente, Montebello Unified School District, and The Shops at Montebello, one of the area’s largest shopping centers.
Because it’s so close to Los Angeles and other notable areas, residents often work outside of the city itself. Being a suburb of Los Angeles means that Montebello is a perfect place to live if you work in the city but want a more suburban feel for when you come home.
Looking for work in Montebello? Here are the latest job listings.
Cost of Living
California is famous for its high cost of living. Unfortunately, Montebello is no exception: Because it’s a suburb of Los Angeles, the cost of a home is an average of $532,000. This is extraordinarily expensive compared to the national average—almost three times as expensive, in fact. Because of this, many residents rent their homes or apartments.
At Somerset Apartments, we offer luxury living at a competitive price. We work hard to provide our residents with the best living conditions available.
However, it’s not all bad news. The cost of healthcare in Montebello is cheaper than the national average.
Here’s more about the cost of living in Montebello, CA.
CULTURE
Montebello is rich in Mexican-American culture and heritage. The residents value creating a sense of community and belonging.
Promoting art and culture is another important part of the community agenda. The city and its residents host art walks and other community events celebrating their history and the creative members of the community.
The culture of Montebello is also colored by its proximity to Los Angeles. There’s more of an urban feel to it than other cities farther away from Los Angeles.
Montebello culture is one of diversity. Like Los Angeles, you’ll find lots of different people and cultures represented here.
Transportation
Montebello has a robust public transportation system that connects it to Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. Most major roads have bus routes with frequent stops. There are also taxis available when trips outside of major roadways need to be made.
Bus fare is affordable, and there are programs that grant low-income riders a discount on bus fare. With just a few transfers, a commuter could make it from Montebello to Los Angeles, Pasadena, or even La Mirada.
The closest airport is the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Here’s a detailed map of the Montebello bus routes.
Now that you’ve looked through the Montebello local area guide, are you ready to start honing in on an apartment? We hope you’ll consider Somerset Apartments in Montebello, CA. Call (323) 689-5518 to learn more or schedule a tour today!
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