New job in Ventura County (Oxnard, Thousand Oaks: rent, house, safe area)

[caliscallin]

I am thinking about accepting a job offer in Thousand Oaks and want to get some feedback from people who live around there. Is that a good place to live? What are the drawbacks. What are reasonable commute options?

Basically, schools and safety are very important, and I don't want to do an awful lot driving but I am not really sure I would want to live there. I stopped by there once in the summer and it was HOT! It was like desert heat and that is just unacceptable. I live in the Bay Area and I like it cool and dislike air conditioning as a lifestyle.

I know I sound picky, but I am actually willing to drive a half hour to an hour to live some place with temps more like the Bay. What do you think?

[user_id]

Thousand Oaks is consistently ranked one of the safest communities (of a city with population > 100k) and the schools, with a few exceptions, are all highly ranked.

The weather in Thousand Oaks is nothing like the desert, but it certainly gets hotter than the bay area. Each summer you'll have a few really hot days, but mostly its in the 80's.

If you want cooler weather then look at Oxnard and Ventura. But here you'll find issues with your other criteria. The schools in Oxnard range from horrible to so-so, the schools in Ventura are hit or miss. Both are so-so in terms of safety.

Anyhow, an awful commute to avoid a little heat. You will adjust to the weather change fairly quickly.

[caliscallin]

I see Thousand Oaks as a bit like Livermore or Walnut Creek up here. Inland and hot. I just flat out wouldn't live there. If I got a job there, I would commute the hour or so that I had to. Anyway, isn't there a safe area with good schools that is closer to the coast. It doesn't make sense that the nice areas are hot and the gang areas are on the desirable coast. Tell me the whole county isn't like that.

[user_id]

Originally Posted by caliscallin

. I just flat out wouldn't live there. If I got a job there, I would commute the hour or so that I had to.

Then why are you asking about it? Anyhow, Thousand Oaks is not "inland", just look at a map. In terms of the heat, that is obviously subjective, compared to Southern California in general Thousand Oaks is not "hot".

I'm not really sure how anybody would categorize Thousand Oaks as "hot", but if that is how you feel about dry heat in the 80's there isn't much I can say.

Originally Posted by caliscallin

Anyway, isn't there a safe area with good schools that is closer to the coast.

The only thing "closer to the coast" than Thousand Oaks is going to be a city that is actually on the coast and the ones that are consistently safe and have good schools are not commutable to Thousand Oaks and a house is going to be rather expensive. The closest bet is going to be Ventura, there are some communities in Ventura that have good schools and are safer than the rest of the city. There is also Camarillo, but its just modestly cooler than Thousand Oaks. Camarillo neighbors Thousand Oaks. Camarillo is safe and has decent schools.

Personally, the only city in Ventura County that I'd worry about raising kids in would be Oxnard. My favorite cities would be Ventura and Thousand Oaks.

Originally Posted by caliscallin

It doesn't make sense that the nice areas are hot and the gang areas are on the desirable coast. Tell me the whole county isn't like that.

Most people don't think Thousand Oaks is hot. Regardless, the reason for the differences is partly proximity to LA and also the fact that the Conejo Valley (which Thousand Oaks is a part of) has a lot of science, tech and otherwise higher paying jobs. On the other hand, Oxnard has a big manufacturing and agriculture sector and is lower income than the rest of Ventura County. Ventura is a mixed bag and again is your best bet if you insist on living on in a coastal city.

No area of Ventura County is really a "gang area", the city with the biggest gang problems is Oxnard.

[caliscallin]

It's hot, and if it were close to the coast you wouldn't be saying it was a difficult commute. You seem very defensive, this is what I was afraid of. I just want to live in a place with good schools where it generally is in the 70s in the summer 60s in the winter. If there is no such place, maybe Ventura County is not for me.

[caliscallin]

Camarillo is a possibility. How is the commute? I guess maybe I was in Thousand Oaks on a scorcher of a day and it may not be as bad as I think. My thing is I am not big on running an air conditioner.

[user_id]

Originally Posted by caliscallin

It's hot, and if it were close to the coast you wouldn't be saying it was a difficult commute.

Take a look at a map and the explanation will be pretty obvious. The coast and Thousand Oaks are divided by a mountain range and there are no major roads through the mountain range. I'm not sure if you're being serious at this point....

Originally Posted by caliscallin

I just want to live in a place with good schools where it generally is in the 70s in the summer 60s in the winter. If there is no such place, maybe Ventura County is not for me.

Maybe not? But as I said, there are some good schools in Ventura (which are of course in the safer communities), but there are also some bad schools as well. You'll just have to pay careful attention to the neighborhood schools before you buy or rent a place. The commute is not going to be pleasant though, but if its worth it to you that is all that matters.

[Charles]

Camarillo is a trade off between the safe suburban neighborhoods of Thousand Oaks and the cooler summer temps of the Oxnard Plain. Cheaper than TO and it's within the 30 minute commute window (which Ventura and Oxnard wouldn't be).
One other thing to consider if you are buying: if you lose your job in TO, by living in the Conejo Valley you'd still be within commuting distance of a lot of jobs east of there but Camarillo is a lot bit "out there" and even the San Fernando Valley would be quite a commute.

Moorpark is also a little cooler than TO plus it is on the metrolink should you ever have to work east of there or even downtown LA. It's also cheaper than TO.

These are a few other options. But considering everything like schools, amenities, safety, variety of housing options, landscape, geography, scenery, commuting options, and community values, TO and much of the Conejo Valley is one of the best places in Southern California to live.

Finally, I probably ran my A/C in TO maybe two weeks a year. Even though I am "Mr. Cheap" it was often so dry and breezy that even in the mid 80s it just didn't feel too hot. It cools off at night all but a couple times a year in late July and early August during the annual monsoonal events. Plant a couple of big deciduous shade trees on the east and west sides of the house, hook up an attic fan and a whole house fan and ceiling fans, and you almost don't need A/C.

[user_id]

Originally Posted by caliscallin

Camarillo is a possibility. How is the commute?

They are close, but there is typically traffic during rush hour. The commute will probably be around 20~30 minutes depending where you are.

[caliscallin]

20 - 30 minutes is great. And it has good schools and is cooler. Sounds like the right spot.

Thanks.