From what I can tell, Studio City gets you the walkable stretch of Ventura and a shorter run over Laurel Canyon and Sherman Oaks gets you more square footage and easier parking for the same rent.
If you had to actually live in one of them, which one and why?
Studio City for me, no contest!! You can park once and walk Ventura between Laurel Canyon and Coldwater, coffee, dinner, drinks, all of it, and the Sunday farmers market there is one of the better ones in the city.
Sherman Oaks has Casa Vega and the mall and both are fine, but you are driving to every single thing. If walking to dinner matters to you at all, that decision kind of makes itself.
Studio City. Shorter run over the hill and you can walk to dinner.
The rent gap between them is smaller than people think, maybe a couple hundred on a one bedroom, so I would not pick on price alone. Pick on the block.
Heat is real. The Valley runs ten to fifteen degrees over the basin in August and a lot of the older Sherman Oaks buildings still have wall units instead of central air. Ask before you sign, because a summer electric bill will eat whatever you saved on rent, and the landlord is not going to volunteer it.
The other thing is which side of Ventura you land on. South of Ventura in either one is quieter and walkable, north toward the 101 is cheaper and louder, and if you commute west then the freeway at five is going to matter more than the neighborhood name on the lease.
I am out that way a lot for car stuff and I would take Studio City. From Pasadena it is a straight shot on the 134, and once you are there you can leave the car parked all night.
Sherman Oaks is fine, just quieter and more spread out. If you want to be able to walk out and end up somewhere on Ventura or over at Sportsmen's Lodge without planning it, Studio City wins.
Sherman Oaks if you want the space, but Studio City is way more fun!!
I would take Studio City for the walkability, but check the air conditioning situation before you sign anything. The Valley in August is not a joke.
Sherman Oaks is 4-5 degrees warmer during the day (July / August), but cools faster during the night. As you said, it’s no joke.
Not sure about which neighborhood is more walkable, depends on the exact area, otherwise not much of a difference.
I would actually prefer Sherman Okas because of space, restaurants, its location. I don’t go much into downtown.
Well, that depends entirely on where you want to go. Sherman Oaks sits closer to the 405 and Sepulveda Pass. It has easier Westside access, so you reach places like LAX or Santa Monica faster.
If I HAD to choose it would be Sherman Oaks. Sits right next to the 405 and places I actually like. Still too much of a drive.
Sherman Oaks feels slightly safer as well.
I don’t know much about both of them. I just think Studio City is prettier. It sits right against the Santa Monica Mountains. You have hillside streets and canyon homes.
Not saying Sherman Oaks is ugly. It has beautiful tree-lined streets. It’s just my preference.
Would be Sherman Okas for me. Brings me faster to the water. Also closer to the Westside.
That was exactly my thought. 
