Thousand Oaks or Santa Clarita??? (Burbank, Santa Barbara: renting, new home, job transfer)

[MovingNow1969]

Hello All, my family and I (wife and two 13 y/o daughters) are having a very hard time choosing a place to live in SoCal. We are moving from Texas out to California in 1 month (end March) for a job transfer. I can either work in Burbank and live in the Santa Clarita area (Stevenson Ranch or Valencia) or work and live in Thousand Oaks. Two different jobs but, very very similar so not really playing into the decision.

We have been to both areas a lot! We have looked at homes in both areas. We will be renting a house for 9 months and then purchasing a new home in the area we choose. We love both areas!!

Can you maybe provide us some info on pros and cons of each area. We have been all over these boards reading up on each area as much as possible but, I thought I would post a direct question out here. We really have considered many areas and have narrowed it down to these two areas. What do you think? What area would you choose/why?

What is important to us:
Schools, safe areas, neighborhoods (nice, clean, walkable), commute, dance studios, things to do, etc.

What are your expect opinions?? Thank you all

[BayAreaHillbilly]

I'd go for Thousand Oaks. Better climate, better demographic, closer to places like Santa Barbara and beyond that SLO and Morro Bay.

[rdv57]

Take my point of view with several grains of salt: I have visited the area, have yet to move there, but have been researching it a good while in anticipation.
I have settled on Thousand Oaks for the reasons Hillbilly cites, and would add proximity to Ocean, Malibu coast, Ojai, farm stands in Fillmore, etc. But the overriding reason is the climate, especially summer heat.
Check out the highs near Santa Clarita vs TO, especially the frequency of 100+ degree days:
Weather Station History | Weather Underground
Weather Station History | Weather Underground

[You can check out other Wundermap weather stations in the area on your own.
WunderMap® | Interactive Weather Map and Radar | Weather Underground
Click on the temperature circle, then on the weather ID, then on Year, and change the year to 2012 or earlier to get yearly graphs.]

Good luck with your choice, whatever it turns out to be. It would be nice to know what you decide.

[smpliving]

I grew up in Thousand Oaks and still visit family out there. It's a lovely town and I would definitely go with TO over Santa Clarita.

[Nitro63]

I would pick thousand oaks. Living in the same community as you work would be nice. Gas is expensive here, and traffic is an issue everywhere in southern California. Thousand oaks is a good community for raising kids, very family oriented. The weather is also a lot better in the summer because you are closer to the ocean.

[DFWtoLA]

Thank you everyone..we decided on Thousand Oaks...so far so good!!!!

[90077]

From someone who commutes 100 miles a day, take the LOCAL job!

[texasdreamin]

Valencia is a wonderful, isolated little town. The only con is that there is only one way into or out of it, via I-5.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by texasdreamin

Valencia is a wonderful, isolated little town. The only con is that there is only one way into or out of it, via I-5.

And the train which isn't available near the Conejo Valley.

[Litlove71]

Originally Posted by Charles

And the train which isn't available near the Conejo Valley.

Metro and Amtrak has stops in Moorpark and Camarillo.

Cal Lutheran to Moorpark train station is only 6 miles a way.