Whittier was founded by Quakers in the 1880s and named after poet John Greenleaf Whittier, whose influence is visible today in the preserved Victorian and Craftsman architecture throughout the historic Uptown district. Located just 15 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, this city of 87,000 residents maintains its small-town atmosphere while offering easy access to greater Los Angeles. The area features several distinct neighborhoods including College Hills near Whittier College, the historic Central Park and Hadley-Greenleaf districts with their Craftsman and Spanish Colonial Revival homes, and the eastern Friendly Hills area.

Renters in Whittier enjoy a variety of housing options from boutique apartment communities to single-family homes and townhouses. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is around $1,631, slightly below the California state average. Uptown Whittier provides a walkable area with local shops, restaurants, and the Poet Gardens food hall, housed in a renovated historic building. The Whittwood Town Center serves as a major retail hub, while the city's park system includes the 19-acre Palm Park with its popular aquatics center and the Greenway Trail, a 4.5-mile walking and biking path connecting several neighborhoods.

Commuters appreciate Whittier's proximity to major employment centers via Interstate 605, which runs along the northern edge of the city. The typical commute to downtown Los Angeles takes about 30 minutes without traffic. Healthcare is a major employment sector with Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital and Whittier Hospital Medical Center among the city's largest employers. Education also provides significant employment through Whittier College, Rio Hondo College, and several school districts serving the area. With its pleasant Southern California climate featuring mild winters and warm summers, Whittier offers renters a comfortable lifestyle with average annual rainfall of about 14 inches.