The City of Bradbury, spanning just two square miles and located 23 miles northeast of Los Angeles, houses fewer than 1,000 residents in one of America’s most expensive postcodes.
The community enforces strict rules prohibiting public swearing, gambling, and even being intoxicated in private homes.
Real estate in this exclusive enclave features massive properties that dwarf the homes of many Hollywood celebrities.
Most estates are hidden from public view, accessible only through guarded entrances.
“You get a lot of acreage and the houses are massive,” realtor Tim Durkovic told the Daily Mail.
“These are monster homes.”
The city attracts significant international wealth, particularly from China and Middle Eastern countries, with buyers willing to spend tens of millions on properties.
“You’re surrounded by wealth,” Mr Durkovic said.
“It’s very much a like attracts like mentality.
“It’s kind of a secret – very, very hush-hush.”
According to the US Census Bureau, Bradbury has a population of 921 residents with a median age of 54.
The community consists of 301 households and 357 homes, with approximately 34 percent of residents being of Asian descent.
The city maintains its exclusive character through strict ordinances.
Public profanity is banned under city code Sec. 6.02.020, which states: “No person shall use vulgar, profane, or indecent language on any public street or other public place or place of business open to public patronage.”
Gambling is prohibited under Sec. 6.02.030, and public intoxication is forbidden by Sec. 6.02.010, which specifies:
“No person shall be in any private house or on any private premises in the City in a state of drunkenness or intoxication to the annoyance of any other person.”
Bradbury is purely residential with no businesses, traffic lights, or sidewalks.
Three-quarters of the mini-city lies behind gates, with the true scale of the estates only visible from aerial views.
Notable residents have included In-N-Out Burger chain president Lynsi Snyder, whose Mediterranean-style estate featured its own two-hole golf course before she sold it for US$16.25 million in 2021.
Realtor Bob Hurwitz recalls listing an eight-acre compound for property tycoon Donald Abbey that featured extraordinary amenities including a temperature-controlled trout pond costing $8.5 million alone.
Many properties in Bradbury exceed 20,000 square feet, significantly larger than the Los Angeles homes owned by celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Jeff Bezos, and Kim Kardashian.
Mr Durkovic said that many of these massive homes remain unoccupied for years, serving primarily as investment properties for international buyers.
“California real estate is a safe bet for people, especially foreign investors,” he said.
“You know, it’s proven over the years to kind of always do really well.”
