Sherman Oaks, CA Area Guide

Sherman Oaks started development in the 1920s, when acres of land were sold by Gen. Moses Hazeltine Sherman for $780 apiece. Residential and business development boomed thereafter. The 1994 Northridge earthquake shook the area but caused it to rebuild and improve.

Whitefire Theater draws residents to see both new actors premiere their talents and familiar ones perform under the radar in comedies and dramas.

Every October, the Sherman Oaks Street Fair takes over Ventura Boulevard, with 100,000 visitors coming to enjoy over 100 food vendors, carnival rides and community art exhibits. Many look forward to this nine-block event to celebrate local heritage and neighborhood revelry.

A thriving neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks is located 16 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles and just 12 miles northeast of Santa Monica, housing the famous Santa Monica Pier. With other popular cities like Beverly Hills and Hollywood nearby, residents have convenient access to everything wonderful and exciting about living in Los Angeles, California.

With a portion of the Santa Monica Mountains within its boundaries, Sherman Oaks offers beautiful natural landscapes paired with modern amenities and a lively community. Sherman Oaks provides an incredible selection of restaurants, shopping, entertainment, community parks, and more.

With access to LAX, the Los Angeles International Airport, and several interstate highways, residents have convenient and easy travel options. Sherman Oaks is within a short drive of the Los Angeles Zoo, Universal Studios Hollywood, and the famous Hollywood sign. Apartments are abundant and upscale with fabulous amenities. Prospective renters should know that renting an apartment in Sherman Oaks comes with a price tag. Most locals pay over $2,300 for an apartment, and home buyers should expect to see houses selling for around $1.4 million.

Sherman Oaks lies just southwest of the intersection of Interstates 405 and 101, making it very convenient to get around Los Angeles and the state. Like many cities in the San Fernando Valley, Sherman Oaks residents tend to rely on their cars. You can take the Orange Line express buses to Chatsworth or North Hollywood. but extensive travel won't be an easy feat. You'll find ample, free street parking on residential streets, metered parking up and down Ventura Boulevard, and parking lots for all the neighborhood's many shopping centers. If you choose not to drive, keep Uber or a local taxi service on your phone.

Coldwater Canyon Park sits at the top of the Santa Monica mountains, where Sherman Oaks joins the Beverly Hills post office area.

Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Park has become the place to exercise outdoors with a track, basketball courts and baseball diamonds. Residents appreciate its clean facilities for children to swing, slide and play. You can swim and pick up most sports games in this developed park and even grab snacks or flag down the ice cream trucks.

Renters living in Sherman Oaks pay an average of $2,295/month to rent an apartment, compared to the Los Angeles city average of $2,781. City dwellers exploring houses for rent in Sherman Oaks can expect to pay around $2,385/month. For those looking to buy, the average house is valued at $1.4 million compared to the city average of $901,291.

Sherman Oaks does shopping well, from malls to corner shops to markets, mainly concentrated along Ventura Blvd. Westfield Fashion Square hosts many favorite and high-end stores, including Bloomingdales, Sephora, Bebe and more, with a terrific food court to refuel or cap off your shopping trip.

If you need a unique gift, head to the Sherman Oaks Antique Mall. Here you'll find toys, photos, jewelry and a wide selection of crystal. Freakbeat Records houses new and used vinyl for your music needs. Residents come here to stock up on 45s from the 50-cent bin. From rare titles to new releases, you can't walk out of Freakbeat Records without a few additions to your turntable collection.

Fresh produce and grocery staples fill up Ralphs, Gelsons, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market, though you can expect to pay a little more for organic fare that includes meats, fruits and vegetables, vitamins and supplements at Whole Foods Market. Head to Farm Boy, a small market with a wide selection of goods when you want Korean foods and fresh sushi. For an outdoor shopping experience, head to the Sherman Oaks Tuesday Farmers' Market. Residents love the small but plentiful market held every Tuesday all year-round.