Living in Ventura, CA Pros and Cons, Video and Map
Ventura is one of the best small cities in the country to live in, including:
- Gorgeous beaches, surfing, mountains, hiking and ocean front biking trails.
- Historic buildings and downtown, next to the ocean, Pier and boardwalk.
- Unique and locally owned shops, restaurants and entertainment.
Local complaints include potholes and a high cost of living.
Dreamy Ventura Neighborhoods
-Westside (bright red)- An Arts district and highly rated, locally owned restaurants. Historic homes and a variety of tract homes from the 50's to 2000's.
-Midtown (light pink)- An urban and suburban lifestyle. Numerous, locally owned shops, the Community Hospital and the Pacific View Mall.
-Pierpont (mustard yellow)- high end, dock and beach homes and locally owned shops and restaurants.
-Hillside (dark green)- high end homes with panoramic views of the Ocean and City.
-College (peach)- a dense suburban feel close to the community college, chain stores, the hospital, and the mall.
-Thille/Montalvo (green/red)- Suburban style homes and a busy area with lots of shopping, chain stores, activities and entertainment.
-Poinsettia (light green)- Estate living at its finest. An oasis tucked away from the city. Enjoy established trees, panoramic views of the mountains, ocean, Channel Islands and Ventura skyline.
-Juanamaria, Saticoy and West Saticoy Neighborhoods (olive,tan,light blue)- A very suburban feel with mostly newer homes. They are removed from the downtown and midtown bustle.
Have Questions about moving to Ventura or other cities in Ventura County?
Get answers—fast.
We’re Bart & Keziah, and this is what we do—7 days a week.
We help people buy and sell real estate in Ventura County.
And the best part? We truly love helping people.
Let’s connect.
What Are The Best Places To Live?
No matter where you live in Ventura, your going to still be within 15 minutes to the beach.
Dowtown is the hub for nightlife, quick beach access, lots more people, restaurants, nightlife and the boardwalk.
Midtown is a popular hub for local shops, the Ventura Mall and the community hospital. As you move East from there, Ventura neighborhoods tend to become more spread out and suburban.
Location and Traffic
Ventura (lime green), is located at the intersection of three major highways. It's convenient for commuting to Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Camarillo and the lovely mountain town of Ojai.
Traffic from tourism increases during the summer months and weekends, especially in the downtown areas. There is increased congestion in the downtown because of lots of new condo construction.
What's It Like Living in Ventura?
Beautiful, grassy parks are spread throughout the city, including the botanical gardens. There's fantastic hiking at Arroyo Verde Park and Harmon Canyon Preserve.
Art galleries and locally owned restaurants and hangouts are plentiful. Ventura Raceway and the County Fairgrounds host swap meets, festivals, trade shows and concerts.
There are numerous, pristine beaches, some where you can park right next to the beach and enjoy beginner friendly surf like at Mondo's Beach. Spend the day at Marina Park, a 15 acre, grassy park right next to the ocean, with volleyball, barbecue grills and outdoor yoga and exercise classes.
We love taking our dogs there for long walks along the beach.
Outdoor Pedestrian Mall
The pedestrian mall offers eclectic boutiques, free parking lots, music venues, historic movie theatre and restaurants with outdoor/patio seating. A large Farmers Market happens on Saturdays right next to the San Buenaventura Mission and goes several blocks up the pedestrian mall.
A gorgeous and flat, seaside trail runs about 12 miles from the Pier and boardwalk to the gorgeous Rincon State Beach Park.
- A fantastic harbor for kayak/paddleboard and sailboat rentals, guided fishing tours and whale watching. A large live-aboard boating community with over 50% of those docked at a slip living on their boats.
- Lots of sea life including dolphins, sea lions, seals and lobster diving.
- Includes a big beautiful swim beach, with no waves, and a protective seawall.
- 30 unique shops, art galleries, and restaurants.
- Live music, The Ultimate Escape Rooms, the 805 Copa club with authentic Cuban food, a wine tasting room at Deep Sea and belly dancing at the Greek Mediterranean Steak and Seafood.
A Thriving Arts Community
There are many historical sites, antique stores, art exhibits and you can also take classes from local artists at many of the galleries.
You can also catch theater at the Rubicon. We have had a blast learning improv and are now teaching as well at Jest Improv.
The Bell Arts Factory is a fantastic non profit that provides classes and studio space for local artists. They create arts and education programs that will heighten artistic awareness within the community and enrich the quality of life for all citizens of Ventura, California.
Other Shopping Areas
You'll find larger businesses such as Target, Vons, Lowes and Barnes and Noble. However, it’s really the small businesses that bring Ventura to life, and locals make it a point to support those businesses.
Cons- Arts and Lifestyle
When there is a festival most of the locals just don’t go to the downtown area because it is bumper to bumper with little to no parking. Ventura is still a smaller town and most locally owned shops close earlier and have unusual hours as compared to a bigger city.
- During weekends and holidays, parking spots are limited for beach access. The beach can get crowded but not as crowded as LA and Santa Barbara.
- You usually will have to pay for parking near the beach on weekends. And the lots fill up quickly.
What's The Weather Like?
There's fabulous, sunny weather ranging from 65-80. It gets up to 10 degrees hotter as you go North and up the hill in Ventura in the Summer. The Winter months and May and June can have quite a few cloudy, cooler and misty days.
There is an increased risk for fire danger as you move into the Foothills sections of Ventura, as it backs up to vast open spaces.
Cost of Living
Entry-level homes start at around $750,000 in most neighborhoods. Comparable homes in Santa Barbara and LA sell for $50-100,000 more and without being as close to the beach. Homes in nearby Oxnard and Port Hueneme are roughly 50- to $75,000 less than Ventura.
- Overall cost of living in Ventura is 34.9% higher than the national average.
- The estimated cost of childcare annually is around $12,000 which is some of the most expensive in the country.
- The cost of living has priced out many younger professionals and people just starting out in their working careers. They are having to find other places to live.
Is Ventura Safe?
For more information on crime, check out the city of Ventura crime map.
Ventura School District
- Public School Review and several other online resources provide more information on schools.
Would you like to get such a clear picture of your top neighborhoods....that you feel like a local?
- For our VIP clients, we (Bart and Keziah) will take you on an in depth area tour......and can even guide you to some spots that you may not have thought of.
- We routinely talk to homeowners in neighborhoods. That way we can get you the most up to date info on what its actually like to live there.
5 star rated real estate agents, Bart Potter and Keziah Aaliyah. We help you buy and sell Ventura County homes.
"My family and I just completed a whirlwind move to Ventura with the help of Keziah & Bart. We contacted them in the Spring about our desire to move to Ventura and a ton of questions. Before we were even clients, Keziah and Bart took the time to really get to know us and help us figure out which neighborhoods we should target based on our needs. We are a family of 4 with two little kids, so we needed info on everything from schools, to community services, to public spaces and employement. We then came to the area and spent a day with them looking at neighborhoods and houses. They are both full of great info and experience, and I could tell they really wanted us to find the right spot for our family. A house popped up 2 weeks later that fit our checklist, and they worked very hard to help us get through the process and close the deal, even with several twists and turns along the way. Keziah's knowledge of appraising and home values in the area was incredibly helpful, and they guided us to an awesome deal, on a fantastic house and we are THRILLED to say the least. I would highly recommend Keziah and Bart to anyone looking in Ventura County." --Annie Levitt Heller, Yelp Review, Aug, 2024
"I'm leo. Keziah and Bart Are definitely the best agent Ever. We are first home buyer. A lot of fresh things i don't know. keziah and bart was Answer every question of ours patiently.He showed us several houses, all of which introduced their advantages and disadvantages in detail. Explain the potential problems very honestly, for example, I offer the first house, but someone near that house deliberately scratched the car.They all explained it in detail.
We cancelled the offer for the first house.，They patiently helped us find the next house, Keziah and Bart Have very good communication skills, and help us communicate with the sell agent.particular, we have five offers competion for this house. Keziah and Bart They are so nice. Very responsible and very reliable. Communication is very smooth, I am very grateful to have such a great agent." --Leo Wu, Google Review, April 2024
"We feel so grateful to have found Bart and Keziah to act as our agents in purchasing our home. They consistently went above and beyond what could reasonably be expected. They were always available to answer questions, manage anxieties and give excellent advice. They have always been respectful of our wants and desires and we felt truly listened to. At the critical moment they were able to reflect back our wishes and guide us into a beautiful home that fits our lifestyle and our future. I would recommend them without reservation. You couldn't find better agents, or people." --Cathy Patterson, Yelp Review, March 2025
"Bart and Keziah are one of the most professional and empathetic real estate teams that we have ever worked with. Since we moved from the East Coast, they answered our unending set of questions both before and after all of the wildfires so that we could assess which community would be the best fit for us. Over nine long months they engaged with us and the builder of our new home so that we were updated on the status of the construction from the very beginning to the closing day. If you are considering an out of state move to California, Bart and Keziah are your go to real estate team."
--Chris Chamberlain, Google Review, May 2025
"Wow!! Keziah and Bart were fantastic to work with!! I feel so grateful to have gotten them as my agents!! I found this house on Zillow and couldn't get into the website to see more without an agent. So I googled the location and Keziah had a video and tour of the entire property and location!! I called them and voila! I had an agent. I was remote and couldn't physically be there to check things out. Keziah and Bart went the extra mile and took videos of the actual house for me. Sent me measurements so I could have an idea of how big the rooms were. She advocated for me with the builder and even met up with me to go to the design center! Every step of the way they supported me through the process!!
And the best part was they shared in their earnings from the builder!! I got $5000 after the sale of the home!! Who does that??
I am so grateful that they have come into my lives. I highly recommend them if you need a real estate agent in Ventura county!!"-- Kathleen P, Yelp Review, Aug, 2024
"Bart and & Keziah are absolutely outstanding realtors and truly kind and genuine people. My husband and I worked with them to buy our very first home and we truly felt cared for throughout the whole process. They did not want to just help us buy a house. They helped us find a location and neighborhood that would really be a good fit for our family and future. They do their research; and not just behind a computer screen! They get out and explore communities to understand the area’s personality, amenities, and social demographic in addition to house styles and market details. When we looked at homes together, they took us out into local grocery stores and parks, and Keziah sparked conversations to introduce us to the locals and neighbors. This allowed us to ask questions about the area that could not be answered on a home-buying app or even by other realtors. We were getting honest responses from the actual people who lived there. That feedback was very valuable and helpful!
Bart and Keziah are very reliable, trustworthy, professional, available to contact and ask questions, and very communicative. We could not have asked for a better agent. If we ever sell or buy in the Ventura or greater-Ventura county area, we will definitely want to work with them again." --Amanda Gurrola, Yelp Review, Jan 8, 2024
"I had the pleasure of working with Keziah and Bart in purchasing my first property. I am an early 30s first-time homebuyer who is local to the area. I initially reached out to inquire about new builds, telling Keziah that I was only beginning my search and didn't think I would realistically purchase until the following year. She was very respectful of this and still offered to take my husband and I to look at properties, knowing our possible long timeline. When we spent a long afternoon together looking at properties, she educated us on possible market trends, which ultimately helped us narrow down our search to one area.
A few weeks later, a condo went back onto the market that checked many of our boxes. Keziah and Bart were immediately available to show us the property, educate us on the process, and advocate for us. They both worked so well with our lender and the seller's agent, providing clear and consistent communication. When things got mentally draining, they both were insightful enough to remind us to take our time in making these big decisions." -Britney Carbajal, Yelp Review 12/2024
Living in Ventura, CA Pros and Cons, Video and Map
Ventura is one of the best small cities in the country to live in, including:
- Gorgeous beaches, surfing, mountains, hiking and ocean front biking trails.
- Historic buildings and downtown, next to the ocean, Pier and boardwalk.
- Unique and locally owned shops, restaurants and entertainment.
Local complaints include potholes and a high cost of living.
Dreamy Ventura Neighborhoods
-Westside (bright red)- An Arts district and highly rated, locally owned restaurants. Historic homes and a variety of tract homes from the 50's to 2000's.
-Midtown (light pink)- An urban and suburban lifestyle. Numerous, locally owned shops, the Community Hospital and the Pacific View Mall.
-Pierpont (mustard yellow)- high end, dock and beach homes and locally owned shops and restaurants.
-Hillside (dark green)- high end homes with panoramic views of the Ocean and City.
-College (peach)- a dense suburban feel close to the community college, chain stores, the hospital, and the mall.
-Thille/Montalvo (green/red)- Suburban style homes and a busy area with lots of shopping, chain stores, activities and entertainment.
-Poinsettia (light green)- Estate living at its finest. An oasis tucked away from the city. Enjoy established trees, panoramic views of the mountains, ocean, Channel Islands and Ventura skyline.
-Juanamaria, Saticoy and West Saticoy Neighborhoods (olive,tan,light blue)- A very suburban feel with mostly newer homes. They are removed from the downtown and midtown bustle.
Have Questions about moving to Ventura or other cities in Ventura County?
Get answers—fast.
We’re Bart & Keziah, and this is what we do—7 days a week.
We help people buy and sell real estate in Ventura County.
And the best part? We truly love helping people.
Let’s connect.
What Are The Best Places To Live?
No matter where you live in Ventura, your going to still be within 15 minutes to the beach.
Dowtown is the hub for nightlife, quick beach access, lots more people, restaurants, nightlife and the boardwalk.
Midtown is a popular hub for local shops, the Ventura Mall and the community hospital. As you move East from there, Ventura neighborhoods tend to become more spread out and suburban.
Location and Traffic
Ventura (lime green), is located at the intersection of three major highways. It's convenient for commuting to Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Camarillo and the lovely mountain town of Ojai.
Traffic from tourism increases during the summer months and weekends, especially in the downtown areas. There is increased congestion in the downtown because of lots of new condo construction.
What's It Like Living in Ventura?
Beautiful, grassy parks are spread throughout the city, including the botanical gardens. There's fantastic hiking at Arroyo Verde Park and Harmon Canyon Preserve.
Art galleries and locally owned restaurants and hangouts are plentiful. Ventura Raceway and the County Fairgrounds host swap meets, festivals, trade shows and concerts.
There are numerous, pristine beaches, some where you can park right next to the beach and enjoy beginner friendly surf like at Mondo's Beach. Spend the day at Marina Park, a 15 acre, grassy park right next to the ocean, with volleyball, barbecue grills and outdoor yoga and exercise classes.
We love taking our dogs there for long walks along the beach.
Outdoor Pedestrian Mall
The pedestrian mall offers eclectic boutiques, free parking lots, music venues, historic movie theatre and restaurants with outdoor/patio seating. A large Farmers Market happens on Saturdays right next to the San Buenaventura Mission and goes several blocks up the pedestrian mall.
A gorgeous and flat, seaside trail runs about 12 miles from the Pier and boardwalk to the gorgeous Rincon State Beach Park.
- A fantastic harbor for kayak/paddleboard and sailboat rentals, guided fishing tours and whale watching. A large live-aboard boating community with over 50% of those docked at a slip living on their boats.
- Lots of sea life including dolphins, sea lions, seals and lobster diving.
- Includes a big beautiful swim beach, with no waves, and a protective seawall.
- 30 unique shops, art galleries, and restaurants.
- Live music, The Ultimate Escape Rooms, the 805 Copa club with authentic Cuban food, a wine tasting room at Deep Sea and belly dancing at the Greek Mediterranean Steak and Seafood.
A Thriving Arts Community
There are many historical sites, antique stores, art exhibits and you can also take classes from local artists at many of the galleries.
You can also catch theater at the Rubicon. We have had a blast learning improv and are now teaching as well at Jest Improv.
The Bell Arts Factory is a fantastic non profit that provides classes and studio space for local artists. They create arts and education programs that will heighten artistic awareness within the community and enrich the quality of life for all citizens of Ventura, California.
Other Shopping Areas
You'll find larger businesses such as Target, Vons, Lowes and Barnes and Noble. However, it’s really the small businesses that bring Ventura to life, and locals make it a point to support those businesses.
Cons- Arts and Lifestyle
When there is a festival most of the locals just don’t go to the downtown area because it is bumper to bumper with little to no parking. Ventura is still a smaller town and most locally owned shops close earlier and have unusual hours as compared to a bigger city.
- During weekends and holidays, parking spots are limited for beach access. The beach can get crowded but not as crowded as LA and Santa Barbara.
- You usually will have to pay for parking near the beach on weekends. And the lots fill up quickly.
What's The Weather Like?
There's fabulous, sunny weather ranging from 65-80. It gets up to 10 degrees hotter as you go North and up the hill in Ventura in the Summer. The Winter months and May and June can have quite a few cloudy, cooler and misty days.
There is an increased risk for fire danger as you move into the Foothills sections of Ventura, as it backs up to vast open spaces.
Cost of Living
Entry-level homes start at around $750,000 in most neighborhoods. Comparable homes in Santa Barbara and LA sell for $50-100,000 more and without being as close to the beach. Homes in nearby Oxnard and Port Hueneme are roughly 50- to $75,000 less than Ventura.
- Overall cost of living in Ventura is 34.9% higher than the national average.
- The estimated cost of childcare annually is around $12,000 which is some of the most expensive in the country.
- The cost of living has priced out many younger professionals and people just starting out in their working careers. They are having to find other places to live.
Is Ventura Safe?
For more information on crime, check out the city of Ventura crime map.
Ventura School District
- Public School Review and several other online resources provide more information on schools.
Would you like to get such a clear picture of your top neighborhoods....that you feel like a local?
- For our VIP clients, we (Bart and Keziah) will take you on an in depth area tour......and can even guide you to some spots that you may not have thought of.
- We routinely talk to homeowners in neighborhoods. That way we can get you the most up to date info on what its actually like to live there.
5 star rated real estate agents, Bart Potter and Keziah Aaliyah. We help you buy and sell Ventura County homes.
"My family and I just completed a whirlwind move to Ventura with the help of Keziah & Bart. We contacted them in the Spring about our desire to move to Ventura and a ton of questions. Before we were even clients, Keziah and Bart took the time to really get to know us and help us figure out which neighborhoods we should target based on our needs. We are a family of 4 with two little kids, so we needed info on everything from schools, to community services, to public spaces and employement. We then came to the area and spent a day with them looking at neighborhoods and houses. They are both full of great info and experience, and I could tell they really wanted us to find the right spot for our family. A house popped up 2 weeks later that fit our checklist, and they worked very hard to help us get through the process and close the deal, even with several twists and turns along the way. Keziah's knowledge of appraising and home values in the area was incredibly helpful, and they guided us to an awesome deal, on a fantastic house and we are THRILLED to say the least. I would highly recommend Keziah and Bart to anyone looking in Ventura County." --Annie Levitt Heller, Yelp Review, Aug, 2024
"I'm leo. Keziah and Bart Are definitely the best agent Ever. We are first home buyer. A lot of fresh things i don't know. keziah and bart was Answer every question of ours patiently.He showed us several houses, all of which introduced their advantages and disadvantages in detail. Explain the potential problems very honestly, for example, I offer the first house, but someone near that house deliberately scratched the car.They all explained it in detail.
We cancelled the offer for the first house.，They patiently helped us find the next house, Keziah and Bart Have very good communication skills, and help us communicate with the sell agent.particular, we have five offers competion for this house. Keziah and Bart They are so nice. Very responsible and very reliable. Communication is very smooth, I am very grateful to have such a great agent." --Leo Wu, Google Review, April 2024
"We feel so grateful to have found Bart and Keziah to act as our agents in purchasing our home. They consistently went above and beyond what could reasonably be expected. They were always available to answer questions, manage anxieties and give excellent advice. They have always been respectful of our wants and desires and we felt truly listened to. At the critical moment they were able to reflect back our wishes and guide us into a beautiful home that fits our lifestyle and our future. I would recommend them without reservation. You couldn't find better agents, or people." --Cathy Patterson, Yelp Review, March 2025
"Bart and Keziah are one of the most professional and empathetic real estate teams that we have ever worked with. Since we moved from the East Coast, they answered our unending set of questions both before and after all of the wildfires so that we could assess which community would be the best fit for us. Over nine long months they engaged with us and the builder of our new home so that we were updated on the status of the construction from the very beginning to the closing day. If you are considering an out of state move to California, Bart and Keziah are your go to real estate team."
--Chris Chamberlain, Google Review, May 2025
"Wow!! Keziah and Bart were fantastic to work with!! I feel so grateful to have gotten them as my agents!! I found this house on Zillow and couldn't get into the website to see more without an agent. So I googled the location and Keziah had a video and tour of the entire property and location!! I called them and voila! I had an agent. I was remote and couldn't physically be there to check things out. Keziah and Bart went the extra mile and took videos of the actual house for me. Sent me measurements so I could have an idea of how big the rooms were. She advocated for me with the builder and even met up with me to go to the design center! Every step of the way they supported me through the process!!
And the best part was they shared in their earnings from the builder!! I got $5000 after the sale of the home!! Who does that??
I am so grateful that they have come into my lives. I highly recommend them if you need a real estate agent in Ventura county!!"-- Kathleen P, Yelp Review, Aug, 2024
"Bart and & Keziah are absolutely outstanding realtors and truly kind and genuine people. My husband and I worked with them to buy our very first home and we truly felt cared for throughout the whole process. They did not want to just help us buy a house. They helped us find a location and neighborhood that would really be a good fit for our family and future. They do their research; and not just behind a computer screen! They get out and explore communities to understand the area’s personality, amenities, and social demographic in addition to house styles and market details. When we looked at homes together, they took us out into local grocery stores and parks, and Keziah sparked conversations to introduce us to the locals and neighbors. This allowed us to ask questions about the area that could not be answered on a home-buying app or even by other realtors. We were getting honest responses from the actual people who lived there. That feedback was very valuable and helpful!
Bart and Keziah are very reliable, trustworthy, professional, available to contact and ask questions, and very communicative. We could not have asked for a better agent. If we ever sell or buy in the Ventura or greater-Ventura county area, we will definitely want to work with them again." --Amanda Gurrola, Yelp Review, Jan 8, 2024
"I had the pleasure of working with Keziah and Bart in purchasing my first property. I am an early 30s first-time homebuyer who is local to the area. I initially reached out to inquire about new builds, telling Keziah that I was only beginning my search and didn't think I would realistically purchase until the following year. She was very respectful of this and still offered to take my husband and I to look at properties, knowing our possible long timeline. When we spent a long afternoon together looking at properties, she educated us on possible market trends, which ultimately helped us narrow down our search to one area.
A few weeks later, a condo went back onto the market that checked many of our boxes. Keziah and Bart were immediately available to show us the property, educate us on the process, and advocate for us. They both worked so well with our lender and the seller's agent, providing clear and consistent communication. When things got mentally draining, they both were insightful enough to remind us to take our time in making these big decisions." -Britney Carbajal, Yelp Review 12/2024