Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Canoga Park
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Canoga Park
Why two numbers? Long-term tenants (often in rent-stabilized units) pay less than today's asking prices. Budget from the asking rent, not the resident median.
Rent control: City of Los Angeleshas a Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO). Most buildings first occupied before October 1978 limit annual increases for sitting tenants; newer buildings at least 15 years old fall under California's statewide cap (AB 1482). Check a specific address with the LA Housing Department's ZIMAS tool before signing.
General information, not legal advice.
How Canoga Park scores for you
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Canoga Park is a San Fernando Valley neighborhood with roots stretching back to the early 1900s, when it was founded as Owensmouth before being renamed and annexed into Los Angeles in 1931. Today it's a working residential area with decent walkability and a good mix of shops and restaurants scattered throughout. The neighborhood sits on land that was once rancho and farmland, and that spacious Valley character persists in its layout and feel.
Day-to-day errands are mostly manageable on foot, you'll find coffee shops, grocers like Vallarta and Grocery Outlet, and restaurants within walking distance. But Canoga Park trades transit access for affordability and space; there's no Metro rail nearby, and getting around without a car limits your options significantly.
Living here
Life here is fairly suburban and car-dependent. You'll have adequate walkability for local errands, with about 9-10 restaurants and a few grocery stores and coffee spots within a short walk. Parks like Lanark Park and Parthenia Park provide some green space, though tree cover is sparse (about 4% of the area is canopy), so shade and cooling relief are limited. Traffic flows busily through the neighborhood, and air quality sits at a moderate level for the region.
The neighborhood ranks 36th out of 114 LA areas for traffic exposure and 47th for air quality, so it's neither the worst nor best by those measures. You'll need to plan on driving most places beyond your immediate block. Rent for a new lease averages about $2,435, which ranks 38th, middle of the pack for Los Angeles, and has stayed flat year over year.
Who it's for
Canoga Park works best for renters who prioritize affordability over transit convenience and don't mind car dependency. It suits people who want reasonable walkability for daily errands, a quieter Valley setting, and space without paying premium prices. If you work in the San Fernando Valley or have your own transportation, and you're willing to trade public transit access for more stable rent and a less dense neighborhood feel, this is a solid choice.
Environment & livability
Air quality: moderate diesel PM exposure for California.
Above the state median, linked to mild long-term respiratory risk in some studies. Worth considering for sensitive households.
Traffic exposure: above-average traffic corridor exposure.
Higher traffic proximity correlates with elevated noise, diesel emissions, and reduced pedestrian comfort on nearby streets.
Tree cover: very limited tree cover, predominantly concrete.
Low canopy areas tend to run hotter and feel more exposed. Research links tree cover to lower ambient temperatures and improved pedestrian comfort.
Walkability: most daily errands can be done on foot.
High intersection density and destination access. The kind of area where a car is optional for daily life.
Transit: minimal transit access, car strongly recommended.
Very infrequent or no meaningful transit nearby. Car dependency is high in this area.
Environmental data from CalEnviroScreen 4.0 and the EPA Smart Location Database. Informational only, not professional advice for a housing decision.
Who lives in Canoga Park
Population
28,678
Renters
52%
of households rent
Median age
39
Median income
$79k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Canoga Park
8 public schools sit inside this area · 8 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canoga Park Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 22% | 17% |
| Hart Street Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 24% | 20% |
| Ingenium CharterCharter Elementary | K-5 | 37% | 32% |
| Multicultural Learning CenterCharter Elementary | K-8 | 49% | 40% |
| N.E.W. Academy Canoga ParkCharter Elementary | K-5 | 29% | 26% |
| Nevada Avenue Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 39% | 25% |
| Village Charter AcademyCharter Elementary | K-5 | 63% | 52% |
| Canoga Park Middle Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 27% | 15% |
Source: California Dept. of Education (directory) and CAASPP Smarter Balanced, 2025. We publish these figures as the state reports them and show the same table for every neighborhood. Saktoo does not rate schools, and school data is never part of a neighborhood match score. Attendance boundaries change — confirm the assigned school with the district before relying on it.
Around Canoga Park
Follow Your Heart Cafe · Follow Your Heart Market · Grocery Outlet · Ralphs
Bon Bon · Cobalt Cafe · France · RING Baked Tofu Donuts, Sea Salt Coffee, Matcha Tea
Arby's · Ay Papa Que Rico · B3 · Bearies Acai
Lanark Park · Parthenia Park
Crunch Fitness
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Similar neighborhoods
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What the census says about Canoga Park
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Canoga Park; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 33 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 75%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1971
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 14%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 5%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 92%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 42%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 2 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 6,703
- total housing units
Averaged across 13 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Canoga Park in the regional index
How Canoga Park places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Cheap rent without needing a car
Ranks #27 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where home prices go furthest
Ranks #28 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Plenty nearby, easy to get around
Ranks #48 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Canoga Park
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car in Canoga Park?+
Yes, a car is strongly recommended. There's no Metro rail in or near the neighborhood, and while most daily errands can be done on foot, getting anywhere beyond a few blocks without a car will be difficult.
How much should I expect to pay for rent?+
For a new lease, expect about $2,435 per month on average. Prices range from around $1,364 for a studio to $2,726 for a three-bedroom, depending on unit size and condition.
Is there anything to do within walking distance?+
Yes, you can walk to restaurants, coffee shops, and grocery stores in your immediate area. Parks like Lanark Park are accessible on foot, though tree cover is limited, so outdoor amenities are modest.
How's the air quality and traffic here?+
Traffic exposure is above average for Los Angeles, and air quality is moderate, not the cleanest in the city, but not the worst either. If these are major concerns, you'll want to explore neighborhoods ranked higher on those metrics.
Is Canoga Park walkable?+
Canoga Park ranks #33 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, most daily errands can be done on foot.
What is the average rent in Canoga Park?+
A new lease in Canoga Park typically asks around $2,435 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $1,686 (Census ACS), which includes long-term and rent-stabilized tenants, so expect asking prices closer to the first number.
How is the air quality in Canoga Park?+
Canoga Park has moderate diesel PM exposure for California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 52 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Canoga Park?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Canoga Park are Panorama City, San Fernando, Lawndale and East Garden Grove.