Your Guide to Ventura County Cities and Neighborhoods

Ventura County Cities’ Pros and Cons.

Coastal Cities in Ventura County

Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ventura, Camarillo

These Ventura County coastal cities benefit from easy beach access and refreshing ocean breezes. Living here means enjoying some of California’s most beautiful beaches and convenient ocean access to world-class harbors.

Ventura

A classic California beach town with a lively pier, surf spots, and a historic downtown.

Oxnard

Wide sandy beaches, boating at Channel Islands Harbor, and one of the more affordable options for coastal living.

Explore Oxnard living

Port Hueneme

A quieter seaside city known for its fishing pier, beach paths, and close-knit feel.

Discover Port Hueneme

Camarillo

Slightly inland, offering more sunny days, a Mediterranean climate, and easier access to Los Angeles County.

See Camarillo highlights

Ventura's downtown neighbrohood — Downtown Ventura with sweeping views to the Channel Islands and pier — one of the coast’s most unique features, offering unforgettable sunsets over the islands.

Civiv arts — One of the many perks of Thousand Oaks living — catching a Broadway show or concert at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center (part of the Civic Arts Plaza), without the L.A. drive.

Eastern Ventura County
Cities – Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Westlake Village & Oak Park

These eastern Ventura County cities are ideal for those who want quicker access to Los Angeles. They offer suburban convenience with shopping, recreation, and plenty of outdoor space. The tradeoff? Summers are hotter than on the coast, housing tends to be more expensive, and traffic is heavier compared to western Ventura County.

Thousand Oaks

Known for open space, hiking trails, and a thriving suburban lifestyle.

Explore Thousand Oaks

Moorpark

A smaller city with a revitalized historic downtown, fantastic farms with farm-to-table experiences, and a burgeoning high-tech economy including aerospace. Community parks, golf courses, and easy freeway access make it a convenient yet distinctive place to live.

Discover Moorpark

Westlake Village

Upscale living with lakeside views, dining, and country club amenities.

See Westlake Village

Oak Park

A residential area with canyon views, parks, and access to both Ventura and LA Counties.

Learn about Oak Park

Small-Town Cities – Ojai &
Santa Paula

Ojai and Santa Paula bring a slower pace of life and charming
downtowns. Ojai is known for its artistic culture and mountain views, while Santa Paula blends agriculture with historic character. The tradeoff is fewer amenities, longer commutes, and limited job diversity — but for many, the peace is worth it

Ojai

A mountain valley city with artistic culture, boutique shops, and scenic trails.

Santa Paula

Known for agriculture, historic downtown, and mountain views.

Explore Santa Paula

Ventura County Neighborhood Comparisons

Find Your Best-Fit City

Ventura vs. Camarillo

Ventura: beach-town energy, walkable downtown, surf & trails

Camarillo: warmer, quieter, newer homes, easy LA access

Explore Ventura vs. Camarillo

Ventura vs. Oxnard

Ventura: artsy, lively, very walkable with excellent surf, boardwalk and historic downtown

Oxnard: wide, uncrowded beaches + relaxed harbor/canal life

Explore Ventura vs. Oxnard

Thousand Oaks vs Camarillo

Coastal = cooler, ocean views

Inland = more space, easier LA commute.

Explore Thousand Oaks vs Camarillo

Ventura County Real Estate FAQs

Coastal (Ventura, Oxnard, Port Hueneme): Ocean access, cooler temps, some areas get May/June
marine layer; occasional aircraft/harbor activity near certain neighborhoods.
Inland (Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Moorpark): Warmer, more space, generally easier LA access
from the east side; farther from beaches and hotter in summer.

We’ll walk you through the trade-offs so you can choose what fits your lifestyle.

East county cities like Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village typically offer the quickest 101 access
(~45–75 min depending on route/time). Camarillo often adds ~10–15 min; Ventura/Oxnard can add
~20–30 min. Actual times vary widely with traffic.

HOA dues range from $0 (older areas) to $800+ /mo in amenity-rich communities. Some newer tracts
include Mello-Roos/special taxes that impact your monthly budget and often aren’t shown on portals.
We’ll pull the disclosures and give you the true monthly cost before you decide.

As REALTORS®, we can’t characterize neighborhoods or steer. We’ll point you to third-party
resources (district sites, CA Dept. of Education, independent school-rating sites, official crime/statistics
pages, FEMA flood tools, CAL FIRE resources, etc.) and help you understand logistics like boundaries,
commute patterns, and housing stock so you can decide what fits

Every area has trade-offs. Some are closer to freeways or commercial zones; others may have
airport activity, wildfire/flood considerations, or longer commutes. We’ll give you objective data sources
and local context so you can weigh what matters most.

Typical checks include: insurance availability/cost (especially in designated fire zones), flood maps,
noise/traffic patterns, future development plans, school/district boundaries, and HOA/CC&R;
restrictions. Tell us your short list and we’ll run a due-diligence checklist for each.

We track micro-market trends—price per sq ft, days on market, absorption, new-build pipeline, rental
demand, and nearby employment projects—and compare them to your time horizon and budget to
identify value and risk.

Both are popular east-county options with strong amenities and trail access. Westlake Village
typically carries higher home prices and a more resort-style feel; Thousand Oaks offers broader price
points and housing types. We’ll show comparable homes and lifestyle differences side-by-side

Bart Potter Keziah Aaliyah Real Estate Agents, Ventura County

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