Camarillo
The defacto first-stop for newcomers — schools, commute, suburban turnkey.
Camarillo city guideRelocation Guide · Ventura County
Moving to Ventura County: the general guide
An honest read on Ventura County for someone considering it from outside California — climate, cost, commute, schools, and what it actually feels like to live here.
The short version
Ventura County sits between Malibu and Santa Barbara on the California coast. Roughly 850,000 people, 18 miles of shoreline, the Topa Topa Mountains and the Los Padres National Forest to the north, and a cluster of mid-size cities (Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Moorpark) running along the coastal plain and inland valleys.
It isn’t Los Angeles. It isn’t Santa Barbara. It’s the value-density middle of coastal Southern California — meaningfully cheaper than Santa Barbara, meaningfully calmer than LA, with the climate and beach access of both.
If you’re moving from outside California, the rest of this page is the honest version of what you’re getting into: weather, taxes, prices, schools, what each city is for, and what to know before you commit to a zip code.
The honest take
What you gain, what you give up
What you gain
- Mediterranean coastal climate — 60-78°F most of the year.
- Walkable beaches that aren’t crowded by 9am.
- A real economy (military / Navy, agriculture, biotech, healthcare) — not a one-industry town.
- Property prices materially below LA, Bay Area, or Santa Barbara for comparable lifestyle.
What you give up
- California state income tax (the highest top-bracket rate in the US).
- Cost of building / renovating (CA construction is expensive).
- Politics — local elections turn on small margins; if you’re from a deep-red state, factor that in.
- Distance from major airports (LAX is the real one; 90 minutes from most of the county).
Side by side
How the numbers compare
| Metric | Where you’re coming from | Ventura County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home priceRoughly equivalent to coastal Oregon at the median; well below Bay Area / Boston / NYC. | Varies by origin | $935K |
| State income taxTiered; effective rate for most middle-income households is 6-9%. | Varies | 1-13.3% |
| Property taxProp 13 base 1% + local; reassessed only on sale, which is unusual nationally. | Varies | ~1.1-1.3% |
| Sales taxCity-dependent. | Varies | 7.25-9.25% |
| Auto insuranceCheaper than LA County, more than mid-America. | Varies | Mid-tier |
| Annual rainfallMediterranean / semi-arid; concentrated in winter months. | Varies | ~16in |
Where to look
Best places to land
Ventura
Surf town with a real Main Street; for the lifestyle move.
Ventura city guideOxnard
Most house per dollar in the county — but neighborhood selection matters more here.
Oxnard city guideThousand Oaks
Highest-end suburban; closest to LA for commuters.
Thousand Oaks city guideOjai
Inland, art-forward, quiet; for the slow-down move.
Ojai city guideGetting around
The commute reality
Internal Ventura County travel is generally 15-30 minutes between cities. To West LA from anywhere in the county is 75-120 minutes morning rush. Metrolink (commuter rail) runs from Oxnard to LA Union Station. LAX is the practical major airport at 90 minutes (no traffic) to 2.5 hours (worst).
Weather
What the climate is actually like
Mediterranean coastal — meaning mild year-round (60-78°F most days), wet winters (Nov-Mar) and dry summers, with the marine layer producing morning fog along the coast much of the year. Inland zones (Thousand Oaks, Simi, Moorpark) run 5-15°F hotter in summer than coastal zones (Ventura, Oxnard).
Schools
Schools and districts
Public school quality varies by district. Pleasant Valley (Camarillo K-8), Conejo Valley Unified (Thousand Oaks), Las Virgenes Unified (Westlake), and Oak Park Unified are all consistently strong. The county supports CSU Channel Islands (4-year) and Ventura, Oxnard, and Moorpark community colleges.
Good to know
Questions about moving to Ventura County
Where is Ventura County?
On the Pacific Coast of California, between Los Angeles County (south) and Santa Barbara County (north). The 101 freeway runs through it. Roughly 850,000 people across cities including Oxnard, Camarillo, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Moorpark, and Ojai.
Is Ventura County a good place to live?
For most people moving from out-of-state for lifestyle (climate, beach, outdoors), yes. The tradeoffs are well-known: California state income tax, expensive construction, distance from major airports, and a smaller cultural footprint than LA or the Bay Area. The reward is a year-round mild climate, real beach access, and a quality-of-life that tends to surprise newcomers.
What is the cost of living in Ventura County?
Higher than national average, lower than LA, the Bay Area, San Diego, or Santa Barbara. Housing is the single biggest line: median home price around $935K. State income tax is the second material item — California’s top brackets are the highest in the US. Most other categories (groceries, utilities, services) are within 5-15% of LA.
What’s the weather like in Ventura County?
Mild year-round. Summer highs typically 70-85°F (cooler at the coast). Winter lows 45-55°F. Rainfall ~16 inches/year, concentrated November through March. Very little extreme weather — virtually no snow, occasional Santa Ana wind events in fall.
What industries are in Ventura County?
Agriculture (especially strawberries and citrus), defense (Naval Base Ventura County and Point Mugu), healthcare (Amgen is headquartered in Thousand Oaks; multiple hospital systems), biotech/pharma, and real estate. The county is not a single-industry economy.
Last reviewed 2026-04-21.
Equal Housing Opportunity. We support the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, source of income, ancestry, age, citizenship, primary language, or military or veteran status.
Jason Walters, REALTOR®. California DRE #01467130. Walters Group Real Estate, eXp Realty of California, Inc., DRE #01878277.