Where Long Beach's Doctors Actually Live — And Why

By Costanza Genoese Zerbi | RealTrends Verified Top Agent Southern California | eXp Realty of Greater Los Angeles

Published August 2026 | Reading time: approximately 4 minutes

Ever wonder where Long Beach's doctors and medical professionals actually end up living? There's a neighborhood with a nickname that gives it away.

Bixby Hill, aka "Pill Hill"

Bixby Hill has long been nicknamed "Pill Hill" — simply because so many doctors have lived there over the years. It makes sense once you look at the practical side: the neighborhood has great freeway access, sits right by the VA, and is close to the medical district around Long Beach Memorial. For someone working long hospital shifts, that kind of easy commute matters more than people realize.

Bixby Knolls: The Same Logic, A Different Feel

Bixby Knolls is another popular choice for medical professionals, and for a similar reason — it's an easy drive to Long Beach Memorial, and it also puts residents within reach of the South Bay, which matters for anyone working across multiple facilities. It has a different character than Bixby Hill — more walkable retail, a slower residential pace — but the commute logic is the same.

Why This Matters If You're Relocating for Medical Work

I work with a lot of people relocating to Long Beach for a position at one of the hospitals or a medical group, and this commute question comes up almost every time: where do people like me actually live? Bixby Hill and Bixby Knolls consistently come up as the answer, precisely because they solve the same practical problem — getting to and from the hospital quickly, especially on the kind of unpredictable schedule medical work often requires.

If you're relocating to Long Beach for a healthcare position, or you're just curious what these neighborhoods look like, I'm happy to put together a custom list based on exactly what you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Bixby Hill called "Pill Hill"? Bixby Hill earned the nickname "Pill Hill" because of the large number of doctors and medical professionals who have lived there over the years, largely due to its proximity to Long Beach Memorial and the VA.

Is Bixby Knolls close to Long Beach Memorial? Yes. Bixby Knolls offers an easy drive to Long Beach Memorial and also provides convenient access to the South Bay, making it a popular choice for medical professionals working across multiple locations.

What other neighborhoods attract medical professionals in Long Beach? Beyond Bixby Hill and Bixby Knolls, parts of Belmont Heights and Los Cerritos also attract buyers looking for a quieter, established residential feel with reasonable proximity to the medical district.

About Costanza Genoese Zerbi

Costanza Genoese Zerbi is a Broker Associate at eXp Realty of Greater Los Angeles and the founder of Costanza Genoese Zerbi & Associates. She is a RealTrends Verified Top Agent in Southern California — five consecutive years — with 600+ closed transactions and more than $500 million in career sales volume. She serves buyers and sellers across Long Beach, the South Bay, greater Los Angeles, and Orange County.

Contact: 📲 (562) 221-4527 🌐 costanzagz.com 📍 1650 Ximeno Ave Suite 300, Long Beach CA 90804 DRE #01941438