The five, in order of premium
- 91411 (south): the Sherman Oaks border band — Boulevard-adjacent living at Van Nuys pricing; the border decision guide is really about this ZIP.
- 91401 (southeast): tree-street pockets shared with Valley Glen — family stock, the quadrant's quiet premium.
- 91406 (west): Lake Balboa-adjacent — Birmingham Community Charter zoning anchors it (zone guide), with the Basin's recreation as the bonus.
- 91405 (central): the Civic Center core — entry tier, public-sector demand floor, the corridor guide's territory.
- 91402 (north): the Panorama City border — the citywide floor, where the Panorama City guide continues the story.
Why the ZIP map matters more here than anywhere
Van Nuys is the Valley's most cross-labeled market: portions rebranded over the decades (Sherman Oaks annexations, Valley Glen's creation, Lake Balboa's split) left a patchwork where the postal label, the neighborhood-council boundary, and the school zone disagree street by street. Buyers who shop by ZIP + verified school zone — not by listing label — consistently find the mislabeled bargains this market is famous for among agents who work it.
Market context
| Market | Median price | Days on market | County | School district(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Nuys | $800,000 | 40 | Los Angeles | Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) |
| Sherman Oaks | $1,400,000 | 73 | Los Angeles | Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) |
| Lake Balboa | $882,000 | 48 | Los Angeles | Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), Birmingham Community Charter zone |
| Reseda | $800,000 | 38 | Los Angeles | Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) |
| North Hills | $835,000 | 35 | Los Angeles | Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) |
Figures from /data.json, the site’s canonical data file (June 2026). Always verify current numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Which Van Nuys ZIP is the best?
By premium: 91411 (Sherman Oaks border), then 91401; by value: 91405 and 91402; by school anchor: 91406 (Birmingham zone). "Best" is which trade-off you're buying.
Why do Van Nuys listings seem mislabeled so often?
Decades of rebranding (Sherman Oaks, Valley Glen, Lake Balboa carve-outs) left postal, neighborhood, and school boundaries that disagree — verify all three per address rather than trusting the headline.
What does Van Nuys cost ZIP by ZIP?
The citywide median is ~$800K (June 2026); 91411/91401 trade above it, 91405/91402 below, 91406 near it. Block selection moves more than the ZIP spread.
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