Northridge Apartments and Rentals

Northridge, California, is a relatively small community within Los Angeles County, and covers an area of 9.47 square miles. Northridge apartments for rent are a popular choice among people looking housing in close proximity to Los Angeles, and families are drawn to the low cost of living and low crime rates in the area.

Northridge gained national attention in 1994 for being the epicenter of the Northridge Earthquake, which devastated the community, killing 57 people and injuring 9,000. Since then, Northridge has been rebuilt into a thriving city in Los Angeles County, and has one of the best emergency preparedness plans in the country.

The population has grown to 78,512, according to data from the 2010 U.S. Census, and the local college - California State University, Northridge - continues to attract students from around the world to the Northridge community. One of the main advantages to living in Northridge is that the Ronald Reagan Freeway, State Route 118, is easily accessible on the northern edge of the city, and provides access to the rest of Los Angeles County freeway system.

The Northridge Recreation Center is an important destination for residents of all ages, and features an auditorium, barbecue pits, basketball courts and a seasonal swimming pool. Northridge Park is a popular destination for Northridge youth, offers summer camping programs to children and teens that feature day trips to famous nearby attractions such as Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland and Universal Studios.

The Northridge economy was initially based on local agriculture, but orange groves started making way for housing developments in the 1950s. California State University, Northridge is now the largest employer in the city, but in an effort to preserve the history of the city, has preserved one of the last remaining orange groves on the campus. More than 80 percent of CSUN graduates stay in California after graduation, contributing to the diverse Los Angeles economy in industries such as entertainment, banking, finance, manufacturing and high-tech research.

Northridge residents are served by the community colleges of Los Angeles Valley College, Pierce College and Los Angeles Mission College; they are all part of the Los Angeles Community College District, which is the largest in the nation. California State University, Northridge is the most popular Northridge location for higher learning with almost 36,000 students in the university community. Notable CSUN alumni include Grammy Award winners, public officials and a space shuttle astronaut.

The student population of Northridge can opt to live in on-campus housing facilities, or find rentals in Northridge conveniently located in neighborhoods surrounding the campus. Northridge offers a low cost of living when compared to other Los Angeles suburbs, and city-data.com reports that the median gross rent in 2009 was $1,125; this has contributed to the large percentage of Northridge residents who make a daily commute to other parts of Los Angeles for work.

The California State University Botanic Garden is one of the most popular Northridge attractions, and the greenhouse and garden complex is home to 1,200 plant species. It offers an outdoor classroom environment for students of all ages, and has become a valued community asset as one of the university resources open to the public. The Donald E. Bianchi planetarium is another popular CSUN attraction open to the public, and features bi-weekly star shows and guest lectures.

To find your next rental apartment or house in Northridge, take a look at our listings on Rent.com®.