Sherman Oaks vs Studio City: Which Valley Neighborhood Fits You?
Published on October 5, 2026 by Leegie Parker
Leegie Parker | Real Estate Advisor | DRE 01020534 | Compass | Leegie.com
Quick Answer If you are comparing Sherman Oaks vs Studio City, the two are closer in price than their list prices suggest: in Q2 2026, the median single-family sale was $2,025,000 in Studio City and $1,850,000 in Sherman Oaks, according to CLAW MLS data. Sherman Oaks is larger, with more homes for sale and direct access to the 101 and 405, while Studio City is more compact, slightly more walkable, and closer to Universal City, Burbank, and Hollywood. Most buyers end up choosing the house, not the neighborhood name. |
Sherman Oaks vs Studio City is a closer race than most buyers expect. These two San Fernando Valley neighborhoods sit side by side along Ventura Boulevard, share the same stretch of the Santa Monica Mountains, and in the second quarter of 2026 their median single-family sale prices landed about $175,000 apart.
I spend a good part of every week in both. My Compass office is on Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks, a few doors down from Bacari, and plenty of my Sunday mornings start at the Studio City Farmers Market on Ventura Place. I have sold homes in both neighborhoods, and I have clients and friends on both sides of the line.
Here is what I see play out again and again: unless a specific school or a commute is driving the search, buyers do not pick Sherman Oaks or Studio City first. They fall in love with a house, and the neighborhood comes with it. This post walks through the real differences so you know what you are getting either way.
In This Post
How Big Are Sherman Oaks and Studio City?
Sherman Oaks covers roughly 9.6 square miles and Studio City roughly 5.7 square miles, which makes Sherman Oaks about two-thirds larger. Both are neighborhoods within the City of Los Angeles, and both fall inside the same Sherman Oaks-Studio City-Toluca Lake-Cahuenga Pass Community Plan area.
That size shows up in inventory: 130 active single-family listings in Sherman Oaks versus 90 in Studio City as of late September 2026, according to Altos Research. Studio City feels compact and village-like. Sherman Oaks feels like a collection of neighborhoods, from Hidden Woods north of the boulevard to the hills south of it.
What Does Each Neighborhood Feel Like?
Studio City feels like a small town wrapped around a studio lot, while Sherman Oaks feels like a larger, busier crossroads of the Valley.
Studio City
Studio City is named for the studio at its center, now Radford Studio Center, which opened in 1928 and was long known as CBS Studio Center. It sits at the base of the Hollywood Hills, closest to Universal City, Burbank, and Hollywood.
My Studio City routine starts on Sunday mornings at the Studio City Farmers Market on Ventura Place, between Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Radford Avenue. Then I browse the shops along Ventura around Laurel Canyon or grab a table at Great White. For a hike, I head to Fryman Canyon, where the Betty B. Dearing Trail climbs through Wilacre Park toward 122-acre Fryman Canyon Park.
Studio City's stretch of Ventura is known as Sushi Row, widely described as having the most sushi restaurants in the U.S. and one of the highest concentrations outside Japan. Firefly is my pick for a cocktail on its garden patio, and Carney's has served burgers out of a vintage train car for as long as most locals remember. Little Lenny's brought kosher Mexican food to Ventura this year, and PopUp Bagels opened on August 28. More openings are in my post on new restaurants in Studio City.
Sherman Oaks
Sherman Oaks is where the 101 and 405 meet, and its stretch of Ventura runs longer, with the Sherman Oaks Galleria anchoring the west end.
Bacari, just down the street from my office, is my go-to for dinner on its courtyard patio. Mistral, the French bistro on Ventura since 1988, reopened this summer under new owners with a refreshed interior. Blu Jam Cafe is my breakfast spot, and 2nd Street and American Vintage are great for secondhand and vintage shopping. Sherman Oaks also has a farmers market on Tuesday afternoons on Riverside Drive.
Buyers love the William Mellenthin ranch homes in Hidden Woods, known for diamond-pane windows and "birdhouse" cupolas over the garage.
What Does the Sherman Oaks vs Studio City Market Look Like Right Now?
The Sherman Oaks vs Studio City market is moving in opposite directions this fall: Sherman Oaks is heating up, while Studio City has been cooling for several weeks. Both are still in slight seller's territory, based on Altos Research data for single-family homes as of the week of September 28, 2026.
Single-Family Homes | Sherman Oaks | Studio City |
Median list price | $2,672,500 | $2,995,000 |
Median price of new listings | $2,995,000 | $2,149,500 |
Price per square foot | $844 | $903 |
Median days on market | 63 | 74 |
Average days on market | 110 | 134 |
Active inventory | 130 | 90 |
Listings with a price decrease | 38% | 23% |
Relisted | 18% | 26% |
Market Action Index | 33 (rising) | 32 (flat) |
Source: Altos Research, week of September 28, 2026. Single-family homes only, full Sherman Oaks and Studio City neighborhoods. The Market Action Index measures buyer demand against inventory; above 30 indicates a seller's market.
The most telling number is the price of new listings. In Sherman Oaks, new listings are priced above the current median, which tends to push it up. In Studio City, they are coming on well below it, so expect the median list price to drift down.
Sherman Oaks also shows more price cuts (38%) even as demand rises. My read: sellers who priced too high are adjusting, while well-priced homes get absorbed.
How Have Sold Prices Changed Over the Past Year?
Sold prices in Sherman Oaks and Studio City have stayed close to flat over the past year, with Studio City up 4% and Sherman Oaks down 1% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with a year earlier, according to CLAW MLS data. The bigger difference is in how many homes are selling.
Median Sold Price (# of sales) | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
Studio City, Q1 | $2,215,000 (54) | $2,180,000 (57) | -1% |
Studio City, Q2 | $1,946,500 (88) | $2,025,000 (72) | +4% |
Sherman Oaks, Q1 | $1,749,000 (103) | $1,700,000 (91) | -3% |
Sherman Oaks, Q2 | $1,875,000 (116) | $1,850,000 (133) | -1% |
Source: The MLS/CLAW, single-family homes, median sold price by quarter.
In Q2, Sherman Oaks sold 133 homes, up from 116, and its sales volume climbed 23%. Studio City sold fewer homes (72, down from 88) at a higher median.
Here is what surprises buyers: Studio City's median list price runs more than $320,000 above Sherman Oaks, but Q2 2026 median sold prices were only about $175,000 apart.
What Does Your Budget Buy in Each Neighborhood?
In the middle of the market, your budget buys almost the same house in Sherman Oaks and Studio City. The real gaps show up at the entry level and at the very top, based on Altos Research's four market segments, each representing about a quarter of active single-family listings.
Market Segment | Sherman Oaks | Studio City |
Entry | $1,542,500 · 2,029 sq ft | $1,795,000 · 2,253 sq ft |
Lower middle | $2,200,000 · 2,805 sq ft | $2,299,000 · 2,823 sq ft |
Upper middle | $2,995,000 · 3,547 sq ft | $3,497,000 · 3,811 sq ft |
Top | $3,998,000 · 4,700 sq ft | $7,250,000 · 6,320 sq ft |
Source: Altos Research, week of September 28, 2026. Median list price and home size for each quarter of active single-family listings.
The lower-middle tier is nearly identical: about $2.2 to $2.3 million for roughly 2,800 square feet. Studio City's top tier sits near $7.25 million and is slow to sell (a median of 147 days). Its upper-middle homes, with a median age of just 7 years, are the fastest movers in either neighborhood at 31 days.
How Do the Commutes Compare?
Sherman Oaks is the better launch point for the Westside, and Studio City is the better launch point for Burbank, Universal City, and Hollywood. That single question settles the decision for a lot of my buyers.
From Sherman Oaks, the 405 runs through the Sepulveda Pass toward Brentwood, Century City, and Santa Monica. From Studio City, you are minutes from Burbank and Universal City, and Laurel Canyon and Coldwater Canyon cross the hill.
Close does not always mean quick here. Drive your real commute at the hour you would make it before you commit. I cover this in my guide to buying a home in the San Fernando Valley and on the Westside.
How Walkable Are Sherman Oaks and Studio City?
Studio City and Sherman Oaks are both rated "somewhat walkable," with Walk Scores of 65 and 62. Both have a Transit Score of 44, and Sherman Oaks edges ahead on biking.
Walk Score Ratings | Sherman Oaks | Studio City |
Walk Score | 62 | 65 |
Transit Score | 44 | 44 |
Bike Score | 52 | 50 |
Source: Walk Score neighborhood ratings for Sherman Oaks and Studio City.
The average hides a big range. Homes near Ventura Boulevard can score in the 80s and 90s, while homes in the hills are car-dependent, so judge the specific block.
What Should Hillside Buyers Know?
Parts of the hills south of Ventura Boulevard in both Sherman Oaks and Studio City fall within designated fire hazard severity zones, which can affect insurance cost and availability.
Check the exact address on the state's fire hazard severity zone maps, get insurance quotes early in escrow, and look closely at drainage, retaining walls, and access.
What Is Coming to the Area?
The biggest change coming to this part of the Valley is The Residences at Sportsmen's Lodge, a 520-unit mixed-use project at Ventura and Coldwater Canyon in Studio City, with construction expected to run through 2027. Homeowners in both neighborhoods will feel the construction now and the added shops later, as I explain in my Sportsmen's Lodge development post.
Sherman Oaks or Studio City: Which One Fits You?
For most buyers, the right choice between Sherman Oaks and Studio City is whichever neighborhood holds the house they fall in love with. Two things change that: a specific school and a specific commute.
If a particular school is part of your plan, confirm the address with the LAUSD school finder, since boundaries do not follow neighborhood names.
• Lean toward Sherman Oaks for more inventory, Westside commutes, and a lower entry price.
• Lean toward Studio City for a village feel, quick access to Burbank and Hollywood, and Fryman Canyon close by.
• Stay open to both in the $2 million to $2.3 million range, where they offer nearly the same home.
My advice is the same one I gave in my Tarzana vs. Encino vs. Woodland Hills comparison: spend time in both. Have breakfast at Blu Jam on Saturday, walk the farmers market on Sunday, and drive the streets at rush hour. If you are early in the process, my Buyer Roadmap (just below) lays out each step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Studio City more expensive than Sherman Oaks?
Yes, but by less than most people think. Studio City's median single-family list price was $2,995,000 versus $2,672,500 in Sherman Oaks as of late September 2026 (Altos Research), and its price per square foot was higher at $903 versus $844. On sold prices the gap narrows: the Q2 2026 median sale was $2,025,000 in Studio City and $1,850,000 in Sherman Oaks, according to CLAW MLS data.
Is Sherman Oaks or Studio City better for commuting?
Sherman Oaks is usually better for Westside commutes because the 405 runs through the Sepulveda Pass toward Brentwood, Century City, and Santa Monica. Studio City is usually better for commutes to Burbank, Universal City, and Hollywood. Test your drive at the hours you would really make it before deciding.
What is Sushi Row in Studio City?
Sushi Row is the stretch of Ventura Boulevard through Studio City that is widely described as having the most sushi restaurants in the U.S. and one of the highest concentrations outside Japan. It includes the original Katsu-ya, and it helped popularize sushi across Los Angeles.
Key Takeaways • Sherman Oaks and Studio City are closer in price than list prices suggest: the Q2 2026 median single-family sale was $2,025,000 in Studio City and $1,850,000 in Sherman Oaks, according to CLAW MLS data. • Most buyers choose the house, not the neighborhood name, unless a specific school or commute is driving the search. • Sherman Oaks is heating up while Studio City has been cooling, with Market Action Index scores of 33 and 32 and inventory of 130 and 90 active single-family listings as of late September 2026 (Altos Research). • Sherman Oaks (about 9.6 square miles) offers more inventory and direct 101 and 405 access for Westside commutes; Studio City (about 5.7 square miles) is closer to Universal City, Burbank, and Hollywood. • Studio City is slightly more walkable, with a Walk Score of 65 versus 62, and daily life centers on Ventura Boulevard, the Sunday farmers market on Ventura Place, and Fryman Canyon. |
Free Buyer Roadmap Buying in the Valley is a lot easier when you can see the whole path in front of you. I put together a Buyer Roadmap that walks you through each step of buying a home in Los Angeles, from getting ready to getting your keys. If you would like a copy, email me here and I will send it right over. |
Torn between Sherman Oaks and Studio City? I would love to show you both. Call or text me at 310-739-9202, or email Leegie@Leegie.com, and we can spend a morning driving the streets, walking Ventura Boulevard, and looking at what is on the market in each neighborhood. I will give you a thoughtful, grounded take on where you would be happiest.
Leegie Parker
Real Estate Advisor, Compass
DRE 01020534
310-739-9202 | Leegie@Leegie.com | Leegie.com
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