Celebrity Enclave in the Valley

About Toluca Lake, CA

Welcome to Toluca Lake, a lakeside Los Angeles neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley long favored by Hollywood luminaries, between Burbank and Studio City.

Toluca Lake is an affluent neighborhood within the city of Los Angeles, set in the southeastern San Fernando Valley about twelve miles northwest of downtown. It straddles the edges of Burbank, North Hollywood, Studio City, and Universal City, at the northern base of the Hollywood Hills. About 8,000 residents live in its compact 1.22 square miles. The neighborhood takes its name from Toluca Lake, a private natural lake fed by wells and maintained by surrounding property owners — a rare inland lake in the Los Angeles basin. The area, once part of Rancho Forman Toluca, was developed beginning in 1923 as one of the Valley's earliest residential communities, laid out around the lake with tree-lined streets and distinctive homes. Toluca Lake is best known for its long association with the entertainment industry. Situated minutes from Warner Bros. in Burbank, Universal Studios, and the production hub of the East Valley, it has been home to generations of Hollywood figures — Amelia Earhart was among its early residents, and Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, W.C. Fields, Lucille Ball, and, most famously, Bob Hope all lived here. That low-key celebrity character endures, drawing industry professionals who want a quiet, lakeside setting with a short commute. The neighborhood is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District, with Toluca Lake Elementary within its bounds, and sits near Burbank's schools and a concentration of prominent private academies. Riverside Drive and the nearby freeways provide routes across the Valley and into the Los Angeles basin. Toluca Lake suits buyers seeking an established, character-rich Valley neighborhood with the lake, studio proximity, and a famously private, village-like atmosphere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Toluca Lake a city?

No. Toluca Lake is a neighborhood within the city of Los Angeles, in the southeastern San Fernando Valley. It is not an incorporated city, though it has a distinct identity centered on its private lake.

Where is Toluca Lake located?

Toluca Lake sits in the San Fernando Valley about twelve miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, bordered by Burbank, North Hollywood, Studio City, and Universal City, at the northern base of the Hollywood Hills.

What is Toluca Lake known for?

Toluca Lake is known for its private, well-fed lake and its long association with Hollywood. Early resident Amelia Earhart and later stars including Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, W.C. Fields, and Bob Hope all lived here, and it remains popular with entertainment-industry residents.

What school district serves Toluca Lake?

Toluca Lake is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District, with Toluca Lake Elementary School within the neighborhood. It also sits near the Burbank Unified School District and many prominent private schools in nearby Studio City and North Hollywood.

What celebrities lived in Toluca Lake?

Toluca Lake has been home to Amelia Earhart, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, W.C. Fields, Lucille Ball, and, most famously, Bob Hope, whose estate sat on the lake. The neighborhood remains a low-key draw for entertainment-industry figures.

City Guide

About Toluca Lake

Real Estate & Housing

Toluca Lake's housing is a mix of established single-family homes on tree-lined streets, many with generous lots and lake or hillside views. The stock ranges from 1920s- and 1930s-era traditional and Spanish-style houses — including estates once owned by Hollywood stars — to mid-century ranches and some newer luxury construction. The neighborhood's compact footprint and desirability keep inventory limited, and homes command a premium for the lake setting, privacy, and studio proximity. Multi-family options are limited, concentrated along the busier corridors, while the lakeside blocks remain overwhelmingly single-family.

Neighborhoods

Lifestyle in Toluca Lake

Toluca Lake offers a quiet, village-like lifestyle at the center of the entertainment industry. The neighborhood's namesake lake, its walking streets, and its low-key cafes and restaurants on Riverside Drive give it a small-town feel rare in Los Angeles. Residents are minutes from the shops and dining of Studio City, North Hollywood's arts district, and downtown Burbank, while Warner Bros., Universal, and Disney are nearby employers. The neighborhood's history of celebrity residents lends it an air of understated privacy. Griffith Park, with its trails and the Los Angeles Zoo, lies just across the river.

Schools & Education

Toluca Lake is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District, with Toluca Lake Elementary School within the neighborhood and students continuing to LAUSD middle and high schools in the Valley. The neighborhood also sits near the Burbank Unified School District boundary, and its central location gives families access to many of the region's prominent private schools, including Buckley, Campbell Hall, Oakwood, and Harvard-Westlake, in nearby Studio City and North Hollywood. Toluca Crossroads School offers a private elementary option in the area.

Getting Around

Toluca Lake is positioned for quick access across the San Fernando Valley and into the Los Angeles basin. The Ventura (134) and Hollywood (170) freeways meet at the neighborhood's edge, and the 5 and 101 freeways are minutes away, connecting residents to Burbank, downtown Los Angeles, and the studios. Riverside Drive and Cahuenga Boulevard provide surface routes over the Cahuenga Pass into Hollywood. Bob Hope Airport in Burbank sits just north, offering regional flights. Commuting to the studios and production facilities of Burbank and the East Valley is notably short.

Parks & Recreation

Toluca Lake's recreation is anchored by its private lake and its proximity to the region's largest park. Griffith Park, directly across the Los Angeles River, offers miles of hiking and equestrian trails, the Griffith Observatory, and the Los Angeles Zoo, while the neighborhood's own tree-lined streets and lakeside setting support walking and cycling. The nearby LA River bike path and the parks of Burbank add more outdoor options. For entertainment, Universal Studios, Warner Bros. studio tours, and the dining of Studio City are all minutes away.

MARKET SNAPSHOT

The Market at a Glance

How homes have been selling here over the last 90 days.

home_work New This Week 4
Went Under Contract 0
trending_down Price Reductions 0
payments Median Sale Price $1,415,000 +9.3%
square_foot Price per Sq Ft $776
schedule Avg Days on Market 8
sell Homes Sold 26
percent Sale-to-List Ratio 101.0%
inventory_2 Months of Inventory 6.3

Price & Sales History

Market data reflects closed sales over the last 90 days and is provided for informational purposes.

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Joshua Henry

(626) 461-2780

thehenryestate@gmail.com

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