Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Sunland
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Sunland
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 Sunland scores for you
Checking your quiz profile…
Score Sunland your way
Drag a slider to say how much each thing matters to you. The score updates live.
Want the real thing? Take the full quiz to factor in your budget and commute and rank Sunland against every neighborhood.
Sunland is a quiet, hillside neighborhood in the Crescenta Valley, anchored by Mount Lukens, the highest point in Los Angeles. It shares a city council district, police station, and high school with neighboring Tujunga, forming a linked community that has operated under a hyphenated identity since 1928. The area is known for clean air and low traffic exposure, making it stand out among LA neighborhoods.
Life here centers on residential streets and local parks rather than walkable commercial strips. You will need a car for most errands and commuting, as public transit is minimal. But if you want to escape the noise and congestion of denser neighborhoods while staying in the city, Sunland delivers that tradeoff cleanly.
Living here
Day-to-day life in Sunland revolves around the parks, local restaurants, and the quieter pace of a hillside community. Within a short walk you will find about 8 restaurants, coffee shops, and a grocery store or two, but you will rely on your car to reach them and everything else. The air quality here ranks among the cleanest in LA, and traffic is light compared to most of the city, so when you are driving, the experience is relatively low-stress.
The neighborhood has very limited tree cover (about 7 percent), so summer heat can feel direct, especially in the residential sections. It is a car-dependent area, but residents tend to prioritize that trade for peace and cleaner surroundings over walkability and transit convenience.
Who it's for
Sunland suits renters who own a car, value quiet and clean air over walkability, and do not mind a 20-30 minute commute if their workplace is on the other side of the city. It works well for families, remote workers, and anyone seeking a residential feel without the noise of denser neighborhoods. If you rely on public transit or want to do most errands on foot, look elsewhere.
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: moderate traffic exposure, below the state median.
Traffic proximity here is better than average for California.
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: walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
A mixed walkability area. Good for quick trips on foot, but some destinations will require driving or transit.
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 Sunland
Population
6,417
Renters
21%
of households rent
Median age
44
Median income
$102k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Sunland
2 public schools sit inside this area · 2 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apperson Street Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 57% | 56% |
| Sunland Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 39% | 35% |
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 Sunland
Vons
Backdoor Bakery · Starbucks
Alfred's Pizza · Burrito Factory · Caruso's Italian Kitchen · Coco's Bakery
Howard Finn Park · Sunland Recreation Center
Sunland Fight Club
Check your commute from Sunland
Enter your work (or any) address for real travel times from this neighborhood.
Similar neighborhoods
Next to Sunland
What the census says about Sunland
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Sunland; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 37 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 82%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1959
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 4%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 6%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 91%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 79%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 3 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 2,193
- total housing units
Averaged across 5 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Sunland in the regional index
How Sunland places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Low rent and clean air together
Ranks #7 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Tree cover, clean air, little traffic
Ranks #8 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where home prices go furthest
Ranks #51 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Sunland
Found a place you like? Score it against your priorities to see how well any address fits your budget and commute.
Frequently asked questions
What is rent like in Sunland?+
New leases are around 2,640 per month (as of May 2026), which ranks near the middle of LA neighborhoods. A 2-bedroom runs about 2,549 and a 3-bedroom about 2,779. Rents have grown about 9 percent year-over-year, so prices are rising at a typical pace for the city.
Do I need a car in Sunland?+
Yes. There is no rail transit nearby, and the neighborhood ranks in the bottom quarter for walkability. You will need a car for most commuting and errands, though a few shops and restaurants are within a short walk for immediate needs.
What is the air quality and traffic like?+
Sunland has some of the cleanest air in LA, ranking 3rd out of 114 neighborhoods for air quality. Traffic is also light, ranking 3rd for the least traffic exposure, so commutes tend to be relatively low-stress compared to other parts of the city.
Are there parks and outdoor spaces?+
Yes. Within a short walk you will find parks like Sunland Recreation Center and Howard Finn Park. Mount Lukens, the highest point in the city, is accessible from the neighborhood, making it a draw for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Is Sunland walkable?+
Sunland ranks #203 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
What is the average rent in Sunland?+
A new lease in Sunland typically asks around $2,640 per month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all unit sizes blended). Current residents pay a median of about $2,155 (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 Sunland?+
Sunland has cleaner air than most of California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 24 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Sunland?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Sunland are Valinda, Mayflower Village, Rowland Heights and Tujunga.