Moving from Los Angeles to Palmdale or Lancaster typically means getting a newer, larger home for roughly half the price per square foot, in exchange for a 60 to 90 minute commute (or Metrolink), hotter summers and fewer big-city amenities. The AV has its own strong job base in aerospace, healthcare and education, so many movers stop commuting altogether. Beyond Estates handles both sides of the move, often selling your LA home and buying your AV home with one team, and includes free movers and up to 3 months of storage. Call (661) 441-3706.
What your money buys
A 1,200 square foot 1950s house in Van Nuys or North Hollywood sells for what a 2,500 square foot 2005 house with a pool sells for in West Palmdale. Buyers moving from LA routinely go from a condo to a detached home with a yard, or from renting to owning.
The commute, honestly
- Driving: Palmdale to Burbank or the Valley is about 50 to 60 miles on the 14 and 5. Off-peak it is an hour; at rush hour plan on 75 to 100 minutes. Santa Clarita is 35 to 45 minutes.
- Metrolink Antelope Valley Line: Lancaster, Palmdale and Vincent Grade/Acton to Burbank, Glendale and Union Station. About 2 hours 10 minutes from Lancaster (about 1 hour 55 minutes from Palmdale) on the May 2026 timetable to Union Station. Monthly passes are available and many employers subsidize them.
- Hybrid work changed everything. Two or three days in LA is manageable; five days is a grind. Be honest about which one you are.
- Future: California High-Speed Rail's Palmdale station and the High Desert Corridor are both planned to run through Palmdale. The Palmdale-to-Burbank section was environmentally cleared in June 2024 (about 17 minutes between the two cities at full speed), and in July 2026 the High-Speed Rail Authority and the High Desert Corridor JPA signed an agreement to coordinate the Palmdale station and the 54-mile link to Victorville and Brightline West (which is targeting a 2028 opening). No construction date has been set for the Palmdale segment.
Jobs in the AV
Edwards AFB, Air Force Plant 42 (Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing), NASA Armstrong, Mojave Air and Space Port, Antelope Valley Medical Center, Palmdale Regional Medical Center, Kaiser, Antelope Valley College, the school districts, the cities, LA County, logistics and retail. Many LA transplants find comparable work locally within a couple of years.
Weather and lifestyle
- High desert at 2,300 to 3,000 feet. Summer highs of 95 to 108, dry. Winters in the 50s by day, freezing at night, occasional snow. Wind in spring.
- 300+ sunny days. The Poppy Reserve bloom, Saddleback Butte, Devil's Punchbowl, Lake Palmdale, the Palmdale Amphitheater, the BLVD in Lancaster, AV Fair.
- Big-box and chain dining is well covered; fine dining and nightlife are thinner than LA. Santa Clarita is 40 minutes for more.
The downsides
The commute if you still work in LA five days. Summer heat and electric bills (solar is everywhere for a reason). Wind. Distance from the beach and from LA culture. Some areas have more activity than others; we steer you to the quiet ones.
How we make the move easy
We list your LA or Valley home, buy your AV home, line up the timing, and book Beyond Movers and up to 3 months of storage so the two closings do not have to land on the same day.
Last updated 2026-10-20 · About Charly · (661) 441-3706
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Frequently asked questions
How long is the commute from Palmdale to Los Angeles?
About 60 miles to downtown LA. Roughly 60 to 75 minutes off-peak by car, 90+ in rush hour, or about 2 hours 10 minutes from Lancaster (about 1 hour 55 minutes from Palmdale) on the May 2026 timetable on Metrolink to Union Station.
Is it worth moving to Palmdale from LA?
For buyers who want to own a newer, larger home and can tolerate the commute or work locally or hybrid, most of our clients say yes. For five-day-a-week downtown commuters it is a harder trade.
Is the Antelope Valley part of Los Angeles County?
Yes, Palmdale, Lancaster and most of the AV are in northern Los Angeles County. Rosamond, Tehachapi and California City are in Kern County.
Talk to the #1 team in the Antelope Valley
Call or text. We answer 7 days a week, in English, Spanish or Arabic.
Charly Daoud, Team Leader · CA DRE #02023368
3001 Rancho Vista Blvd, Palmdale, CA 93551
Call or text (661) 441-3706 · charly.daoud@exprealty.com
Offices: Antelope Valley · San Fernando Valley · Bakersfield · Central Valley