Zip code 91214, Mar 2026 to May 2026, from the Redfin Data Center. 91214 covers La Crescenta. Montrose uses 91020, which isn't in the data set, so treat these figures as a guide for the wider Crescenta Valley. Zip codes don't line up neatly with neighborhood borders, and medians hide a wide range of homes, so treat these as a rough feel for the area.
Montrose began in February 1913, when the Holmes-Walton agency sold lots in the foothills north of Glendale with a big barbecue and a contest to name the new town. The first land office opened at Honolulu Avenue and Verdugo Road, and shops grew up along Honolulu through the 1910s and 20s. In the late 1960s merchants turned it into a tree-lined shopping park, and it is still the main street for the whole Crescenta Valley.
The homes
La Crescenta and Montrose sit in the Crescenta Valley, a sloping bowl between the San Gabriel Mountains to the north and the Verdugo Mountains to the south. The housing is mostly single-family homes: 1920s to 1940s bungalows and Spanish homes near Honolulu Avenue, then wide swaths of postwar ranch and mid-century houses, with newer custom homes mixed in. The higher you go above Foothill Boulevard, the bigger the views tend to get, looking across the valley to the Verdugos.
Lots are often larger than in the flats of Glendale, and some upper streets wind into the canyons with steep driveways and stepped yards. Condos, townhomes and apartment buildings line parts of Foothill Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue, close to shops and the freeway.
The feel
- The Montrose Shopping Park on Honolulu Avenue has shade trees, independent shops, cafes and restaurants, and the Montrose Harvest Market sets up there on Sundays.
- Deukmejian Wilderness Park, at the top of the valley, has trails into the San Gabriels and the Le Mesnager Barn, a 1911 stone barn that is now a nature and history center.
- Crescenta Valley Community Regional Park is the area's big county park, with lawns, sports fields and picnic areas.
- The Verdugo Mountains fill the southern skyline, and fire roads and trails climb into them from the Montrose side.
Eat, drink, shop
- Backbone (N Verdugo Rd). A polished dinner spot from the McCall's Meat & Fish team, with an open kitchen, a black marble bar, steak tartare and house-made pasta. The Infatuation
- How's It Going to End? (Verdugo Blvd). A specialty coffee shop in a former dry cleaners from the Dinosaur Coffee founders, with a desert-style patio and pastries from local bakeries. Time Out
- Byblos Mediterranean Bakery (Foothill Blvd). A Mediterranean bakery and restaurant with its own oven for lahmajoun, plus mezze, shakshuka and manti. The Infatuation
- Farmhouse at Descanso Gardens (La Cañada Flintridge, Descanso Dr). A farm-to-table restaurant from chef Rich Mead with a seasonal California menu, a few minutes east. Pasadena Magazine
Getting around
The 210 Foothill Freeway runs through the valley, and the 2 Glendale Freeway meets it just to the east. Off-peak, Downtown LA is often 20 to 25 minutes via the 2, Pasadena about 15 minutes east, and Burbank about 15 to 20 minutes west. Hollywood Burbank Airport is usually 15 to 20 minutes away. There is no rail station in the valley; Glendale's Metrolink station and the Metro A Line in Pasadena are the nearest. La Cañada Flintridge is right next door to the east.
What's new
- Burbank's new terminal. Hollywood Burbank Airport's new 14-gate terminal, about 20 minutes away, was scheduled to open on October 13, 2026. (ABC7)
- Farmhouse at Descanso Gardens. A new restaurant at Descanso Gardens, just over the line in La Cañada Flintridge, opened in May 2025. (Pasadena Magazine)
Good to know
- County or city. Most of La Crescenta and part of Montrose are unincorporated Los Angeles County, so permits and planning go through the county, while other streets, including the Montrose Shopping Park, are in the City of Glendale with its own rules. Check which applies to any address with LA County Planning or the City of Glendale.
- Fire zones and insurance. Homes on the upper foothill and canyon streets often fall in mapped fire hazard severity zones. Check any address on CAL FIRE's fire hazard severity zone map and get insurance quotes early in escrow.
- Hillside lots. Sloped lots can mean extra review for grading, retaining walls and additions, so ask early about what a property allows.
- Older homes. For bungalows and postwar houses, add a sewer line scope and a close look at foundations, wiring and past additions. I'll pull permit records and line up inspectors for you, and if you want my opinion on anything, just ask.
Questions people ask
Is La Crescenta part of Los Angeles?
No. Most of La Crescenta and part of Montrose are unincorporated Los Angeles County, governed by the county rather than any city, while the Montrose Shopping Park and other nearby streets are in the City of Glendale. None of it is in the City of Los Angeles, so check which jurisdiction covers any address.
What kind of homes are in La Crescenta and Montrose?
Mostly single-family homes: 1920s to 1940s bungalows and Spanish homes, plenty of postwar ranch and mid-century houses, and newer custom homes. Streets climb from Foothill Boulevard toward the San Gabriel Mountains, so many homes have valley or mountain views. There are condos and apartments along Foothill and Honolulu.
How far is La Crescenta from Downtown LA?
Downtown LA is often 20 to 25 minutes from La Crescenta and Montrose off-peak via the 2 Glendale Freeway. Pasadena is about 15 minutes east on the 210, and Hollywood Burbank Airport is usually 15 to 20 minutes away.
What is Montrose known for?
Montrose is known for Honolulu Avenue, a tree-lined 1913 main street of independent shops, cafes and restaurants, and for the Montrose Harvest Market, which sets up on Honolulu on Sundays. The Verdugo Mountains and Descanso Gardens are both a few minutes away.
