Tarzana's housing is split between two settings. North of Ventura Boulevard, the flatter Valley floor holds a large stock of mid-century ranch-style single-family homes, many built during the postwar expansion, along with apartments and condominiums near the commercial corridors. South of Ventura Boulevard, streets climb into the hills toward Mulholland Drive, where larger lots, canyon views, and more contemporary custom homes predominate. The mix ranges from modest starter homes to substantial hillside estates, all within a fully built-out neighborhood.

Tarzana is bounded roughly by the 101 Freeway to the north and the Santa Monica Mountains to the south, with Reseda to the east and Woodland Hills to the west. The flatlands north of Ventura Boulevard are denser and more traditional suburban in character, while the hillside streets south of Ventura Boulevard are quieter, greener, and home to larger properties with views. The Reseda Boulevard corridor and the commercial blocks along Ventura Boulevard form the neighborhood's service spine, with the gated Braemar Country Club area near the southern edge.

Tarzana has a suburban, family-oriented pace with quiet, tree-lined streets and a strong neighborhood identity. Ventura Boulevard and the Reseda Boulevard corridor supply the day-to-day commercial life, with a wide range of restaurants, markets, and services reflecting the community's diversity. The area is home to long-established houses of worship, kosher markets, and a notable concentration of Persian restaurants and grocery stores. Parks, schools, and the Tarzana Recreation Center anchor family life, while the canyon trails to the south offer an easy escape into open space.

Tarzana is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District. Tarzana Elementary School sits in the heart of the neighborhood, and students feed into middle and high schools across the western Valley, including charter options such as Taft Charter High School and El Camino Real Charter High School in nearby Woodland Hills. The area also has a number of private and parochial schools serving families from across the west Valley.

The 101 Freeway (Ventura Freeway) forms Tarzana's northern boundary, and Reseda Boulevard and Ventura Boulevard are the main local corridors. The Metro Orange Line busway stops at nearby Reseda and Canoga stations, providing a dedicated transit link across the Valley. The neighborhood sits about 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles, with the Westside reachable via the 101 and 405 freeways. Topanga Canyon Boulevard also provides a route over the Santa Monica Mountains to the coast and Pacific Palisades.

Tarzana's southern edge opens onto the Santa Monica Mountains. The Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park, at the south end of Reseda Boulevard, is a trailhead into the Topanga State Park network, offering hiking, mountain biking, and views of the Valley. The Tarzana Recreation Center and neighborhood parks provide sports fields and playgrounds, and the Braemar Country Club offers private golf and tennis. Nearby Woodland Hills and Encino add further parkland and the commercial amenities of the west Valley.