Towns, City of Los Angeles
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Codes: 91303, 91304, 91305, 91309
Located at the west end of the San Fernando Valley, on or near the border of Ventura County. Bedroom communities. Housing runs from a few low-income units to middle and upper-middle homes. Population combined, 166,259 (census 2000). www.mccormacks.com
Crime rate unknown. School rankings, low-middle to high. L.A. Unified School District. Both are towns of the City of Los Angeles.
West Hills, built on ravines and hills at the extreme west, contains some of the newest housing in the Valley. The homes run to two-story units, tile roofs, four and five bedrooms.
The lower hills contain homes built generally over the last 25 years. Many include at least four bedrooms. Some have three-car garages. Nothing custom, all tract, but well done with the modern touches — walk in closets, etc.
Many of these homes are priced for upper-middle buyers and West Hills is considered affluent.
Going east, you enter Canoga Park. Many of the homes fall into the three-bedroom models of 55 years ago, and some are smaller. Many show a lot of care, some show little. Toward the center of town, the homes become smaller and appearances fall off. www.mccormacks.com
Generalizations are difficult because neighborhoods change within a few blocks, and even a block with rundown homes may have sitting in its middle a new stucco-tile job. Canoga Park, along Sherman Way, shows a pretty thoroughfare lined with tall palm trees and stocked with well-kept apartment complexes.
Served by Los Angeles Unified. State school rankings reflect the jumbled nature of the towns. Welby Way Elementary (West Hills), 90th percentile; Capistrano Elementary, 30th to 70th percentile; Canoga Park Elementary, 10th percentile; Canoga Park High School, 30th to 60th percentile.
In 2005, Canoga Park opened a new elementary school, which is being run as a charter. See Schools.
Patrolled by L.A. police. West Hills and most of Canoga Park do without security doors and window bars and probably have crime rates that fall into the range of suburban average. Where the bars and security doors turn up, extra precautions might be necessary. See Crime.
About 10 parks. Two shopping malls. Two rec. centers. Horticultural park. www.mccormacks.com
About 26 miles to downtown L.A. Highway 101 can be picked up by driving south 2-3 miles. Metrolink station (commuter rail) at Chatsworth. New bus line to south; runs to North Hollywood. It is called the Metro Orange line. Park-and-ride lots at the malls.
For orientation on cities, towns and neighborhoods of Los Angeles County, see County Overview.
Chamber of commerce: (818) 884-4222.
