Real Estate Investing in La Crescenta-Montrose, California (91020)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Los Angeles County • Population: 7,265 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 91020 (La Crescenta-Montrose, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (40/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 30.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in La Crescenta-Montrose, CA (91020)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $1,007,558
Avg Monthly Rent $2,762
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $61,771
% Renters 75.2%

Market Analysis: 91020 La Crescenta-Montrose

ZIP 91020 inside Los Angeles County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $1.0M — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

The 91020 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

In the broader CA picture, 91020 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Who lives in 91020 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 91020 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in La Crescenta-Montrose:

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 46/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 16.3× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,762/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
50 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.0%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 91020

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+7.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$340,626/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $879,291 $2,890 2.4% +5.4% $439,645
3BR $1,021,877 $3,660 2.6% +3.5% $340,626
4BR $1,443,458 $4,080 2.0% +7.0% $360,865

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.1M$952K$808K$663K$519K$374KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,066$2,934$2,802$2,669$2,537$2,405Jan 2025Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 91020 Compare?

Metric 91020 La Crescenta-Montrose Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA California
Home Value $1,007,558 $1,129,765 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 2.4% 3.1% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $2,762 $3,054 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.1% 2.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 91020? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

75% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 91020 (La Crescenta-Montrose, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Los Angeles County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

A Better Property Management Company Inc. provides property management services in Long Beach, Seal Beach, and Southern California. summary from their website

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ACF Property Management leases shopping center spaces nationwide, managing over 37 shopping centers in 11 states from California to Florida. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.4%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,007,558
Monthly Rent $2,762
Price-to-Rent 30.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.3%
Cap Rate 2.1%
5-Year IRR 4.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -9.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.1%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
7.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 91020

Population: 7,265

💰 Median Household Income
$61,771
This area
$61,771
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
75.2%
This area
75.2%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.5%
This area
5.5%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
47.1%
This area
47.1%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.5 years
This area
41.5 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.9%
This area
7.9%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 54.1%
Asian 26.3%
Other/Mixed 18.1%
Hispanic/Latino 9.2%
Black/African American 1.5%
👶 Under 18
24.5%
This area
24.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.7%
This area
18.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.5%
This area
11.5%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 91020

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B+ Above Average

Dunsmore Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 4717 Dunsmore Ave., La Crescenta
👥
570 Students
👨‍🏫
22.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,420 Per Student
B+ Above Average

La Canada Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 4540 Encinas Dr., La Canada
👥
639 Students
👨‍🏫
25.0:1 Class Size
💰
$21,365 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Palm Crest Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 5025 Palm Dr., La Canada
👥
604 Students
👨‍🏫
22.5:1 Class Size
💰
$21,365 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Paradise Canyon Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 471 Knight Way, La Canada
👥
661 Students
👨‍🏫
23.6:1 Class Size
💰
$21,365 Per Student
B Good

Abraham Lincoln Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 4310 New York Ave., La Crescenta
👥
508 Students
👨‍🏫
24.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,420 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 4,123 Off-Campus Students
C
Glendale Community College
11,176 students · 3.0 mi
C+
Art Center College of Design
2,382 students · 3.9 mi
C+
Brand College
12 students · 4.2 mi
D
Glendale Career College
854 students · 4.5 mi
D
North-West College-Glendale
100 students · 4.5 mi
D
CES College
106 students · 4.7 mi
C+
American Medical Sciences Center
200 students · 4.7 mi
C
Abraham Lincoln University
166 students · 4.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,123 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How expensive is real estate in La Crescenta-Montrose, CA?

Median home price in La Crescenta-Montrose, CA is near $1.0M, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been predictable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What real estate strategy is ideal for La Crescenta-Montrose, CA?

For La Crescenta-Montrose, CA, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

Is La Crescenta-Montrose, CA good for landlords?

La Crescenta-Montrose, CA falls under CA landlord-tenant law, which is tenant-protective. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Is La Crescenta-Montrose in CA worth investing in?

Our data puts La Crescenta-Montrose, CA at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $1.0M and rents around $2,762/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What is the average monthly rent in La Crescenta-Montrose, CA?

Rent in La Crescenta-Montrose, CA is around $2,762/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $1.0M pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

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How 91020 ranks in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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