Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Tujunga
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Tujunga
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 Tujunga scores for you
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Tujunga sits in the foothills above the San Fernando Valley, nestled within the Crescenta Valley and Verdugo Mountains. Once two separate settlements, Sunland and Tujunga merged administratively decades ago and now share schools, libraries, and local services. The neighborhood is defined by its elevation, proximity to nature, and quiet residential character, with Mount Lukens, the highest point in Los Angeles city limits, anchoring the area.
Living here means trading walkability for space and views. The streets are residential and tree-lined in spots, though overall canopy coverage is limited. This is a car-dependent neighborhood, though you'll find reasonable amenities nearby: grocery stores like Albertsons and Smart & Final, parks including Fehlhaberhouk Park and the McGroarty Cultural Art Center, and casual restaurants scattered throughout.
Living here
Day-to-day life in Tujunga is quiet and suburban. You will need a car or ride-share for most errands and trips; the neighborhood ranks 106th of 114 LA neighborhoods for walkability. Transit access is minimal, with no rail stations nearby and limited bus service. However, the air quality ranks 2nd best in the city, and traffic exposure is above average but manageable compared to valley corridors farther south.
The tradeoff is clear: you get space, cleaner air, lower density, and a removed feel from central LA in exchange for car dependency. This works well for people who don't mind driving and value quiet, residential surroundings over the convenience of dense urban living.
Who it's for
Tujunga suits renters who prioritize space, quiet, and clean air over walkability and nightlife. It's good for remote workers, families, and anyone comfortable driving for errands and social outings. If you need to commute daily to a car-free workplace or prefer neighborhoods where you can walk to restaurants and bars, this will feel isolating. Current residents pay around $2,087 in median rent, but new leases run about $2,468, putting it near the LA median and ranking 68th of 114 neighborhoods for cost.
Environment & livability
Air quality: cleaner air than most of California.
Long-term diesel PM exposure is linked to elevated respiratory and cardiovascular risk. This area is well below the state median.
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: limited tree cover, mostly open streetscape.
Less canopy means more heat exposure and less visual greenery on daily walks. LA County median is around 14% canopy coverage.
Walkability: most errands require a car or transit.
Lower intersection density and fewer destinations within walking distance, typical of suburban LA/OC areas.
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 Tujunga
Population
20,090
Renters
34%
of households rent
Median age
47
Median income
$99k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Tujunga
5 public schools sit inside this area · 5 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 43% | 43% |
| Pinewood Avenue Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 31% | 25% |
| Plainview Academic Charter AcademyCharter Elementary | K-5 | 23% | 20% |
| Mt. Gleason Middle Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 52% | 33% |
| Verdugo Hills Senior High High School | 9-12 | 65% | 34% |
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 Tujunga
Albertsons · Smart & Final
Corner Grill · Del Taco · Domino's · Guido's Pizza and Pasta
Fehlhaberhouk Park · Little Landers Park · McGroarty Cultural Art Center · McGroarty Park
USA GYM
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What the census says about Tujunga
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Tujunga; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 36 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 79%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1961
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 5%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 5%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 95%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 79%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 3 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 5,783
- total housing units
Averaged across 12 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Tujunga in the regional index
How Tujunga places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Tree cover, clean air, little traffic
Ranks #17 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Low rent and clean air together
Ranks #52 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where police report the fewest incidents
Ranks #54 of 254 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Tujunga
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car in Tujunga?+
Yes. The neighborhood ranks 106th of 114 for walkability, and there are no rail stations nearby. Most errands require a car or ride-share, making it strongly car-dependent compared to other LA neighborhoods.
Is Tujunga an affordable neighborhood?+
It's moderate for LA. New leases average about $2,468, which is near the citywide median and ranks 68th of 114 neighborhoods. Prices are stable, with rents flat year-over-year. Current residents pay less due to rent-stabilized and long-term leases, but budget for the asking rent if you're moving here now.
What's the air quality and traffic like?+
Air quality ranks 2nd best in the city, notably cleaner than most LA neighborhoods. Traffic exposure is above average but ranks 17th of 114, so while you'll encounter congestion on main corridors, it's not the worst in the city.
Are there parks and outdoor space nearby?+
Yes. Parks like Fehlhaberhouk Park, Little Landers Park, and the McGroarty Cultural Art Center are within a short drive or walk depending on your location. Tree cover is limited overall, though some streets are more tree-lined than others.
Is Tujunga walkable?+
Tujunga ranks #283 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, most errands require a car or transit.
What is the average rent in Tujunga?+
A new lease in Tujunga typically asks around $2,468 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $2,087 (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 Tujunga?+
Tujunga has cleaner air than most of California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 23 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Tujunga?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Tujunga are Sierra Madre, Malibu, East Trabuco Canyon Hills and East OC Hills.