Valley Glen's housing stock reflects several decades of San Fernando Valley development, with a blend of single-family homes built largely in the mid-20th century and a substantial inventory of apartment buildings and multi-family housing. The neighborhood's proximity to Los Angeles Valley College, the Hollywood Freeway, and major Valley employment centers supports a mix of owner-occupied homes and rentals. Lot sizes are typical of central Valley neighborhoods, and many homes feature the ranch and traditional styles common across Los Angeles. The area's relative affordability compared with the adjacent communities of Sherman Oaks and Studio City has made it an enduring option for households seeking a central Valley location.

Valley Glen sits within the South Valley district of the San Fernando Valley, surrounded by well-established neighboring communities. To the south and west lie Valley Village and Sherman Oaks, to the southeast Studio City and Toluca Lake, and to the north and east North Hollywood and Van Nuys. Within Valley Glen itself, the Tujunga Wash forms a central spine, and the Los Angeles Valley College campus anchors the community's core. The neighborhood's boundaries are formalized by the Greater Valley Glen Neighborhood Council, which represents the area and organizes community identity around this distinct slice of the Valley.

Day-to-day life in Valley Glen is shaped by its role as a working, diverse, and education-centered neighborhood. Los Angeles Valley College brings students and community programs to the area, while the neighborhood's commercial strips along major boulevards offer everyday retail and dining. Residents enjoy the convenience of being minutes from the entertainment studios, restaurants, and nightlife of North Hollywood and Studio City, without living directly in those busier districts. The Tujunga Wash and neighborhood parks provide open space, and the area's central position makes it a practical home base for people working across the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles.

Education is central to Valley Glen's identity. Los Angeles Valley College, one of the largest campuses in the Los Angeles Community College District, is located within the neighborhood and serves students from across the San Fernando Valley. Adjacent to the college, Grant High School anchors public secondary education for the area. Public elementary and middle schools are provided by the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation's second-largest school system. Together, the presence of a major community college and neighborhood public schools gives Valley Glen a distinctly education-focused character and a steady flow of students and families.

Valley Glen benefits from a central location in the Valley's transportation network. The Hollywood Freeway (State Route 170) forms the neighborhood's eastern boundary, providing a direct link to the Ventura Freeway (U.S. 101) and the broader freeway system of greater Los Angeles. Major surface streets, including Sherman Way, Burbank Boulevard, and Van Nuys Boulevard, offer local north-south and east-west movement, and the area is served by Los Angeles Metro bus lines connecting to the Metro Rail system at nearby stations. This connectivity makes Valley Glen practical for commuters traveling to Hollywood, downtown Los Angeles, and employment centers across the Valley.

Recreation in Valley Glen centers on the neighborhood's parks, the open corridor of the Tujunga Wash, and the facilities of Los Angeles Valley College. Nearby regional parks and the broader recreational offerings of the San Fernando Valley are within easy reach, including the green spaces of the Sepulveda Basin to the northwest. The neighborhood's location also places residents a short drive from the hiking trails of the Santa Monica Mountains and Griffith Park. Community events and college-based programs add to the local recreational calendar, while the dining and entertainment districts of North Hollywood and Studio City provide an urban counterpoint.