Altadena
Altadena is an unincorporated San Gabriel Valley foothill community of roughly 42,000 residents directly north of Pasadena, sitting at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains where the terrain begins to climb into the Angeles National Forest. The community has one of the deepest historic residential architecture footprints in Southern California, with substantial Craftsman, California bungalow, and Mediterranean single-family stock on tree-lined blocks. Portions of the community, particularly in the western and northwestern areas, are in active recovery from the January 2025 Eaton Fire.
Altadena market notes.
Detailed market figures for Altadena are coming soon as MUVE connects each city's live data feed. In the meantime, ask a MUVE agent for current pricing, inventory, and days on market specific to your price range and target neighborhoods.
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Altadena's submarkets sort by elevation and by which side of Lake Avenue frames each block. The western neighborhoods, hillside blocks above Altadena Drive, and the historic Janes Village and Meadows areas each carry their own character. Recovery from the January 2025 Eaton Fire is ongoing across affected portions of the community.
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West Altadena
The residential blocks west of Lake Avenue toward the Rubio Canyon and Loma Alta neighborhoods. Historic Craftsman and mid-century single-family stock on tree-lined blocks. Portions of this area were significantly impacted by the January 2025 Eaton Fire and are in active recovery.
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East Altadena (Janes Village and Meadows)
The historic residential neighborhoods east of Lake Avenue including Janes Village and the Altadena Meadows area. Substantial Craftsman single-family homes on generous tree-lined lots, one of the more architecturally consistent pockets in the community.
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North Altadena (foothills)
The residential blocks climbing north toward the San Gabriel Mountains and the Angeles National Forest boundary. Substantial single-family homes on hillside lots, some custom construction in higher elevations, and direct proximity to mountain trailheads.
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Central Altadena
The residential core between Woodbury Road and Altadena Drive. A mix of historic and mid-century single-family stock on tree-lined streets, walkable to the small commercial clusters along Lake Avenue.
Schools, amenities, and getting around.
Schools
Pasadena Unified School District serves most of Altadena. John Muir High School is one of the main high schools serving Altadena addresses; some blocks feed to Pasadena High School. Elementary and middle assignments vary by address. Private options in the area include Waverly School and several other Pasadena-area private schools.
Amenities and access
The Angeles National Forest is directly north with extensive hiking, biking, and camping access. The historic Mount Lowe Railway ruins in Rubio Canyon are a preserved 1890s remnant. Farnsworth Park is a substantial community park in east Altadena. The Metro L Line (Gold) has stations in adjacent Pasadena for light-rail service to downtown LA. Altadena has one of the deepest historic Craftsman architecture footprints in Southern California.
Homes for sale in Altadena.
Live MLS listings for Altadena, updated throughout the day. Filter by price, beds, and neighborhood inside MUVE's full search experience.
Browse Live Altadena Listings →Buying or selling in Altadena.
What buyers and sellers ask most often about Altadena.
Is Altadena a separate city?
No. Altadena is an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, meaning it does not have its own city government. LA County services (LA County Sheriff, LA County Fire) cover the community. Pasadena Unified School District provides schools. It is one of the larger unincorporated communities in LA County.How was Altadena affected by the January 2025 Eaton Fire?
The January 2025 Eaton Fire significantly impacted portions of Altadena, particularly in the western and northwestern areas. Recovery is ongoing across affected residential blocks, with rebuilding, permit review, and infrastructure work continuing through 2026. Buyers considering Altadena should verify the status of specific addresses and current permit and utility conditions.How does Altadena compare with Pasadena?
Altadena sits directly north of Pasadena at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. It is unincorporated (LA County services) while Pasadena is an incorporated city with its own municipal services. Altadena is generally more residential with less commercial density, deeper historic Craftsman residential fabric, and larger typical lots than Pasadena. Both share Pasadena Unified School District coverage.How strong is Pasadena Unified in Altadena?
Pasadena Unified serves most of Altadena. John Muir High School is one of the primary high schools serving Altadena addresses; other schools include Pasadena High School depending on attendance boundary. School quality varies across the district. Verifying at the address level is standard, particularly given the size and diversity of the PUSD footprint.What is the Mount Lowe Railway?
The Mount Lowe Railway was an 1890s incline and mountain railway that ran from Altadena's Rubio Canyon up into the San Gabriel Mountains, with a hotel and observatory at the summit. It operated until 1938 and remains in fragmentary form as historic ruins accessible via hiking trails in the Angeles National Forest. It is one of the more distinctive historical landmarks in the area.
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