By David Petikyan · Property Provider Group | eXp Realty
Same city. Same school district. Sherwood Forest and Porter Ranch sit just a few miles apart. Yet they feel built for two different ways of living.
One is 1950s ranches on lots of about 0.4 acre. The other climbs into the hills with newer HOA communities. So which fits you? Here’s Sherwood Forest vs Porter Ranch, side by side.
The big pictureSherwood Forest vs Porter Ranch: Two Neighborhoods, Two Ways to Live
Sherwood Forest is one uniform 1950s neighborhood inside Northridge. Porter Ranch, north of the 118, is three markets in one: older tracts, planned developments and condos.
CompareAt a Glance: The Side-by-Side Numbers
| Sherwood Forest | Porter Ranch | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Northridge, east of CSUN | Hills north of the 118 |
| ZIP | 91325 | 91326 |
| Size | ≈1,000–1,150 homes | ≈9,700 parcels |
| Home types | Almost all detached | ≈3,370 single-family, ≈3,780 PUD, ≈1,680 condos |
| Median lot | ≈17,600 sq ftBigger | ≈10,000 sq ft (traditional lots) |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1974 traditional; 2001 PUD; 2004 condo |
| Median living area | ≈2,590 sq ft | ≈2,440 traditional; ≈2,840 PUD |
| Pools | ≈3 in 4 parcels | ≈58% of traditional parcels |
| Zoning | RA-1 on ≈95% | RE11, RE9, RS + Specific Plan |
| HOA | Voluntary, $50/yr | Typical for PUDs and condos |
Approximate parcel data, October 2026. More on our Sherwood Forest and Porter Ranch pages.
LandLots and Land: Where Sherwood Forest Pulls Ahead
About 30% of Sherwood Forest lots top 20,000 sq ft. Porter Ranch’s planned-development homes sit on smaller lots inside HOA communities.
Many Porter Ranch lots are on slopes, so check hillside and fire-zone status on ZIMAS.
HomesHome Age and Style: 1950s Ranches vs. Three Eras in One
Sherwood Forest
Walnut orchards turned 1950s–’60s ranch homes, many with pools and guest houses.
Porter Ranch
Tracts from 1960–63, hillside growth after the 1990 Specific Plan, and newer Toll Brothers homes.
Sherwood Forest buyers budget for 70-year-old systems. Newer Porter Ranch buyers weigh HOA dues and special taxes.
RulesZoning and Horse-Keeping
Sherwood Forest
RA-1 on about 95% of lots. Horses allowed on lots of 17,500+ sq ft (about half qualify), one per 4,000 sq ft.
Porter Ranch
Mostly RE11, RE9 and RS, plus Specific Plan rules. Horses only in certain subareas.
CostsHOAs and Mello-Roos: The Hidden Monthly Costs
Sherwood Forest
Only a voluntary $50-a-year association. No common areas to fund.
Porter Ranch
PUDs and condos usually have HOAs. Toll Brothers said two Westcliffe collections “offer no Mello Roos,” but special taxes vary by parcel.
CommuteGetting Around
| Sherwood Forest | Porter Ranch | |
|---|---|---|
| Freeways | Balboa to the 118; Nordhoff or Roscoe to the 405 | The 118 runs along its southern edge |
| Rail | Northridge Metrolink, 1–2 miles | Chatsworth station, ≈3 miles |
| Nearby | CSUN; Northridge Fashion Center | Porter Ranch Town Center; canyon parks |
EducationSchools: Same District, Assignments by Address
Both are in LAUSD, and assignments vary by address. Check any home with the Resident School Identifier.
DecideSherwood Forest or Porter Ranch? How the Trade-Offs Line Up
- 1
Land first?
Pool, workshop, ADU or horses? Sherwood Forest.
- 2
Newer first?
Porter Ranch has homes from the 1980s to the 2020s.
- 3
Comparing costs?
HOA dues and special taxes vs. system updates.
- 4
Selling?
An RA lot and a PUD home aren’t comps.
I lead Property Provider Group with eXp Realty from Mission Hills, a short drive from Sherwood Forest.
David Petikyan · DRE #02089725 · eXp Realty of Greater Los Angeles, Inc. #02188471
Sherwood Forest vs. Porter Ranch: FAQ
Is Porter Ranch the same as Northridge?
No. They’re separate City of LA neighborhoods that share ZIP code 91326, which is why the names get mixed up.
Is Porter Ranch a city?
No. It’s a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles, as is Sherwood Forest.
Does Porter Ranch have Mello-Roos?
It depends on the parcel. Check the property tax bill and Natural Hazard Disclosure report for any specific home.
Which has bigger lots, Sherwood Forest or Porter Ranch?
Sherwood Forest: a median of about 17,600 sq ft, versus about 10,000 sq ft for Porter Ranch’s traditional single-family lots.
Related Neighborhood Guides
- Sherwood Forest Real Estate
- Porter Ranch Real Estate
- Living in Sherwood Forest
- Northridge Real Estate
- Granada Hills Real Estate
- What Is My Home Worth?
- Porter Ranch Valuation
- Sherwood Forest Valuation
Sources & notes
Sources: LA Council District 12: Sherwood Forest · LA GeoHub Neighborhood Council Boundaries · Porter Ranch Specific Plan · LAMC Sec. 12.07 (RA Zone) · LAUSD Resident School Identifier.
Photos: A ranch home set back behind a deep lawn, seen from Nordhoff Street looking into Sherwood Forest: Clotee Pridgen Allochuku, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized). Tile-roofed homes against the hills in Porter Ranch: Clotee Pridgen Allochuku, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized). Holleigh Berson Memorial Park, where Porter Ranch meets the hills: FoxLad, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 (resized). The 118 Freeway with Porter Ranch, Chatsworth and Granada Hills: Brew Books, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized). Agent photo: Property Provider Group.
Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Laws, tax rates and fees change; verify zoning, lot size, permits, taxes, disclosures and school assignments independently, and consult an attorney, CPA or escrow officer for advice on your situation. Neighborhood figures are approximate. David Petikyan, DRE# 02089725, eXp Realty. eXp Realty of Greater Los Angeles, Inc. #02188471. Equal Housing Opportunity.