By David Petikyan, DRE 02089725 · Property Provider Group | eXp Realty · Updated October 2026
Northridge is a big, mostly single-story neighborhood in the northwest San Fernando Valley, with Cal State Northridge near its center.
So, is Northridge a good place to live? For many buyers, yes. You get large lots, 1950s and ’60s ranch homes, a university and a Metrolink station at a median of about $1.1 million, below Porter Ranch. The trade-offs: older houses that need work, the 1994 earthquake’s legacy, summer heat and a slower market.
The upsideWhat Makes Northridge a Good Place to Live
Northridge is a City of Los Angeles neighborhood running from Roscoe Boulevard up to the 118 Freeway, mostly in ZIP codes 91324 and 91325.
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1Room to spread out
About 53% of single-family lots are 10,000 sq ft or larger. In Sherwood Forest the median lot is about 17,600 sq ft.
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2Classic Valley ranch homes
About 46% of homes were built in the 1950s and 34% in the 1960s. The median is about 2,060 sq ft, and about half have a pool on record.
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3A university at the center
CSUN’s 356-acre campus on Nordhoff Street includes The Soraya performing arts center.
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4Shopping and rail
Northridge Fashion Center on Tampa Avenue opened in 1971. The Metrolink station on Wilbur Avenue has free parking for riders.
The trade-offsThe Downsides to Know Before You Buy
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1Older houses
Fewer than 3% of homes were built in 1990 or later. Budget for updates and check permits on additions.
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2Earthquake legacy
The 1994 quake damaged homes across the Valley. Many were repaired or rebuilt, so look closely at the foundation.
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3Summer heat
First Street, via Redfin, projects days above 100°F rising to about 19 a year within 30 years.
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4A slower market
The average home goes pending in about 54 days, and 30.7% had a price cut.
The 1994 earthquakeWhat the Northridge Earthquake Means Today
The magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquake struck at 4:30 a.m. on January 17, 1994. The USGS counted 57 deaths, about $20 billion in losses and more than 1,600 red-tagged buildings.
Since 2015, the City’s soft-story program (Ordinance 183893) has required retrofits of pre-1978, multi-story wood-frame buildings with tuck-under parking. Buildings with three or fewer units are exempt. Buying a condo or apartment building? Ask for the certificate of compliance.
For a house, the question is the foundation. The state’s Earthquake Brace + Bolt program offers up to $3,000 toward bolting qualifying pre-1980 raised-foundation homes in participating ZIP codes.
My tip
On a 1950s or ’60s Northridge house, have your inspector check the crawl space for foundation bolts, then compare the rooms you see with the permits on file.
Getting aroundCommute, Shopping and Everyday Errands
Northridge station, on Metrolink’s Ventura County Line, has 10 weekday trains toward L.A. Union Station. Drivers use the 118 along the north edge, and Nordhoff Street and Roscoe Boulevard lead east to the 405.
Redfin gives Northridge a Walk Score of 51 and a Transit Score of 39, ahead of Granada Hills (44 and 29) and Porter Ranch (17 and 0). Most errands are still a short drive.
The marketNorthridge Home Prices Right Now
- $1.10Mmedian sale price, 3 mo. to Sep 2026
- $505median price per sq ft
- 52median days on market
- 98.4%sale-to-list price
Redfin reported 120 homes sold in September 2026, versus 130 a year earlier, with 31.3% selling above list. Price per square foot rose 3.7% even as the median fell, a reminder that the mix of homes selling moves the median.
Smaller-lot tracts, larger 1960s homes, big RA lots and condos all trade differently. See the breakdown on my Northridge real estate page.
If you’ve driven through Balboa and Nordhoff, you may have seen my bench asking that question. Values here can swing a lot within a mile, because of lot size, zoning and what’s been done to the house.
Fit checkIs Northridge Right for You?
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A strong fit if you want
- A big lot (median about 10,400 sq ft)
- Single-story living
- Rail service to downtown and Burbank
- Room for a pool, garden or ADU
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Think twice if you need
- Newer construction
- A walk-everywhere neighborhood
- Mild summers
- An HOA to handle exterior upkeep
Your local guide
David Petikyan
I lead Property Provider Group with eXp Realty from our Mission Hills office on Devonshire Street, just east of Northridge, serving all of LA County.
Property Provider Group | eXp Realty · DRE# 02089725
15545 Devonshire St #103, Mission Hills, CA 91345 · (818) 394-0012
eXp Realty of Greater Los Angeles, Inc. #02188471 · Equal Housing Opportunity
Living in Northridge FAQ
Is Northridge a good place to live?
For many buyers, yes. Northridge offers big lots, single-story 1950s and 1960s homes, CSUN, Northridge Fashion Center and a Metrolink station, at a median sale price of about $1.1 million (three months ending September 2026). The trade-offs are older houses, earthquake retrofit questions and hot summers.
Is Northridge expensive?
Redfin reported a $1,099,692 median sale price for the three months ending September 2026, down 4.4% year over year, at about $505 per square foot. That is roughly $114,000 below Porter Ranch and $145,000 above Granada Hills for the same period.
Should I worry about earthquakes in Northridge?
All of Los Angeles has earthquake risk. The 1994 Northridge earthquake was magnitude 6.7, and since 2015 the City has required retrofits of older wood-frame soft-story buildings with four or more units. For a house, ask whether it is bolted to its foundation and review the permit history during your inspection period.
How long is the train ride from Northridge to downtown LA?
The Metrolink timetable effective May 4, 2026 lists 10 weekday Ventura County Line trains from Northridge station to L.A. Union Station, scheduled at 39 to 52 minutes.
Does Northridge get hot in the summer?
Yes. First Street, via Redfin, gives 99% of Northridge properties a major heat risk and projects about 19 days a year above 100°F within 30 years. Check the air conditioning and insulation before you buy.
More Northridge Guides
- Northridge Real Estate
- Northridge Neighborhoods Compared
- Living in Sherwood Forest
- Sherwood Forest Market Update
- Cost to Sell in Northridge & Nearby
- Is Porter Ranch a Good Place to Live?
- Is Palmdale a Good Place to Live?
- Free Home Valuation
Sources & notes
Redfin, Northridge housing market · USGS, 1994 Northridge earthquake · LADBS, Soft-Story Retrofit Program · Metrolink, Northridge station · our Northridge page (LA County Assessor parcel analysis). Market data: three months ending September 2026; heat, fire and Walk Scores from First Street and Walk Score via Redfin; train times from the Metrolink timetable effective May 4, 2026; CSUN campus size from csun.edu; Brace + Bolt from earthquakebracebolt.com. Photo credits in captions. Aggregate data only, not an appraisal; information believed accurate but not guaranteed. Equal Housing Opportunity.