T.O, Simi Valley, Moorepark Living (Los Angeles, Thousand Oaks: renting, crime, house prices)

[DFWtoLA]

Hello, my family and I are searching for houses in the T.O, Moorepark and Simi Valley (Wood Ranch) areas. We recently moved to T.O. about 9 months ago from Dallas and absolutely love it (we are renting now). I have two daughters (both 13 yo girls) who will be attending West Lake High next year. We are a white family that makes fairly good money.

As you probably know the house prices in T.O are considerable higher compared to the other areas. Can some of your tell us your opinions on T.O. compared to Moorepark and Simi Valley? Would you live in one area compared to the other and why?

Home price area would be about 750-850K range. THANK YOU EVERYONE ON YOUR THOUGHTS!

[nightlysparrow]

Here's this topic on previous threads to help you:

//www.city-data.com/forum/ventu...park-your.html
//www.city-data.com/forum/ventu...k-vs-simi.html
//www.city-data.com/forum/ventu...-hills-vs.html

[Cheektowaga_Chester]

Where is your job?

I'd give TO and A+ and Moorpark a B+ and Simi a B for schools.
Moorpark is cooler in summer.
Lots of trucks on 118 in Moorpark.
TO more expensive than Moorpark which is on par with Simi. Wood Ranch is one of the masterplanned communities in Simi. I thin WR attends average Royal HS.

If you job is in Chatsworth, then Wood Ranch or Moorpark. If it is in Woodland Hills then TO.

It doesn't get much better than TO.

[RoaminRebel]

Despite a few gradual shifts in the past few years, T.O. is still the best in my opinion. There are a few small patches in T.O. that are less desirable but still the schools are excellent and the crime is very low. Simi Valley gets a little hotter in the summer and has a more blue collar ambiance to it although I would not discount it at all. Moorpark feels a bit more removed than T.O., and some people who work in T.O. are starting to move in that direction.

[DaniellaG]

I agree that I like TO the best but Wood Ranch seems nice from what I saw of it. I am not sure about the schools though.
OP since you like TO and live there now have you looked at all at homes in the area? Since your kids are in school I would think if possible you would rather keep them in the same district?

[GalenCallahan]

Hi,
I grew up in Dallas so I can sympathize with the sticker shock you must be experiencing! Im a realtor here in Westlake Village/Thousand Oaks and a mom so I'll give you my opinion from both perspectives If your girls are going to be in Westlake schools, I would most definitely recommend Thousand Oaks. The traffic during rush hour on the 23 going to Moorpark or Simi is no fun and I'm sure you will be driving your kids back and forth plenty. Thousand Oaks is just generally more convenient. Everything you could possibly want to do is within a few miles. You can get a very nice home for the price range you are searching in. Moderator cut: Removed contact information

[smangano]

Prices are higher in T.O. because the school system is excellent. Simi and Moorpark are enough cheaper that you might be able to afford private school. Sierra Canyon is a fabulous school in Chatsworth - just minutes from Simi. I would only live in or near the Wood Ranch area - the south west end of Simi, because there was a serious nuclear meltdown at the east end of Simi in 1959 and much of the contamination has yet to be cleaned up. There is also a great private school in Calabasas called Viewpoint School. If you really want your kids in public school, stick to T.O. I do like a couple of things about Simi very much - it is small and uncrowded. Congestion is minimal compared to Thousand Oaks or Westlake. I also like driving into Los Angeles on the 118 instead of the 101. I avoid the 101 whenever possible because the traffic is always horrible.

[jw2]

Originally Posted by smangano

Prices are higher in T.O. because the school system is excellent. Simi and Moorpark are enough cheaper that you might be able to afford private school. Sierra Canyon is a fabulous school in Chatsworth - just minutes from Simi. I would only live in or near the Wood Ranch area - the south west end of Simi, because there was a serious nuclear meltdown at the east end of Simi in 1959 and much of the contamination has yet to be cleaned up. There is also a great private school in Calabasas called Viewpoint School. If you really want your kids in public school, stick to T.O. I do like a couple of things about Simi very much - it is small and uncrowded. Congestion is minimal compared to Thousand Oaks or Westlake. I also like driving into Los Angeles on the 118 instead of the 101. I avoid the 101 whenever possible because the traffic is always horrible.

The schools in Moorpark are outstanding GreatSchools Moorpark. It is less crowded and crime is lower than Thousand Oaks.