Arleta's housing is predominantly single-family, with a large stock of mid-century homes built during the San Fernando Valley's post-war expansion, along with a smaller share of apartments and multifamily buildings. Many homes sit on standard Valley lots, and the neighborhood has a dense but house-centered character typical of the northeastern Valley. The area's history as farmland turned suburbia is visible in its gridded streets and modest ranch-style and bungalow homes. The market is shaped by proximity to the 5 and 170 freeways and by demand for single-family living within the city of Los Angeles.

Arleta sits at the center of a cluster of established Valley neighborhoods. Mission Hills and North Hills lie to the north, Sun Valley to the east, Pacoima to the northeast, and Panorama City to the west. The neighborhood itself is a compact residential district without a major commercial downtown, relying on the retail corridors of Panorama City, Pacoima, and North Hills for shopping. Its boundaries are largely street-defined, and the community's identity is tied to its schools, parks, and the 1968 separation from Pacoima.

Life in Arleta is family-oriented and community-centered, anchored by local schools, recreation centers, and neighborhood parks. Branford Recreation Center and nearby facilities provide youth sports, swimming, and programs that draw residents together. The neighborhood's largely Latino population is reflected in its markets, restaurants, and community organizations. Residents do much of their shopping along the nearby commercial corridors of Panorama City and Pacoima, while the 5 and 170 freeways open access to jobs across the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles.

Arleta is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District. Campuses in and around the neighborhood include Arleta High School, Beachy Elementary, and Canterbury Avenue Elementary, among others. The high school and its programs are a central part of community life, and the district's magnet and charter options extend choice across the Valley. Nearby community colleges, including Los Angeles Valley College and Mission College, provide higher-education pathways.

Arleta sits near the junction of two major freeways: Interstate 5 along the east and State Route 170 to the west, giving commuters direct routes across the San Fernando Valley, into the Los Angeles basin, and north to Santa Clarita. Major surface streets such as Van Nuys Boulevard, Arleta Avenue, and Branford Street cross the neighborhood and connect it to Pacoima, Panorama City, and North Hills. The neighborhood is automobile-oriented, with regional employment centers in Burbank, Glendale, and the western Valley within commuting range.

Recreation in Arleta centers on Branford Recreation Center, which offers sports fields, tennis courts, a swimming pool, and picnic areas, along with neighborhood parks such as Devonshire Arleta Pocket Park and Sheldon Arleta Park. Nearby Panorama Recreation Center and the Ritchie Valens Recreation Center in Pacoima add larger facilities, and the broader San Fernando Valley offers access to the Hansen Dam Recreation Area and the Angeles National Forest within a short drive.