Burbank, California

Burbank is a very safe neighborhood surrounded by 3 freeways that allow for access to different commutes. Neighborhoods are relatively clean compared to the rest of Los Angeles. Public Elementary and High Schools are very good under the Burbank Unified School District.

Burbank is the most populous and vibrant city in the entire San Fernando Valley. It is home to over 100,000 people and to NBC Studios where the Tonight Show has been filmed since the days of Johnny Carson was the host. This titanic city is also the headquarters for PBS, the Walt Disney Corporation and Viacom. Burbank has its own commercial airport which savvy domestic travelers use to avoid the hassle of going through LAX. Burbank also has a major medical center and several both older and newer communities.

Strangely, Burbank manages to keep a small town feel in many neighborhoods, even though it is the largest city in the Valley. Despite its large population, Burbank is a relatively safe city in which to live. There have been only 5 murders in Burbank since 2007, three of which were crimes of passion involving jilted lovers and none of which were gang-related.

Near the hills, Burbank has really lovely older neighborhoods and architecture that is worth seeing. The streets are quiet on this northern end and you get great views of the city. In the city center, you have a bustling metropolis with every shop imaginable and series of great restaurants and movie theaters.

Down in the flat area of Burbank, you can find lots of less expensive places to live, but nowhere in Burbank is it really rundown for too far. You never get the feeling that people don’t really care about their neighborhoods or anything like that. One of the nicest areas you will find is the Magnolia Park area of Burbank—lot’s of lovely houses here.

As far as hiking and outdoor life, you have Griffith Park just off the southern edge of Burbank and there are also great places for a jog or hike in the hills to the north.

This is also a great place to raise kids. The schools are very safe and they have a stellar academic record. Both Burbank High School and Borroughs have well deserved reputations—probably among the best in the Valley.

Currently however there is one big problem loaming over Burbank. Like some of the cities in Orange County they lost a lot of money in the financial crash. It is not altogether clear how they will get out of the red.

On a personal note—Burbank is also home to my mother. After years of working at the St. Joseph’s Medical center, mom has retired happily in the hills overlooking this beautiful, though smoggy city.