Considering relocation to Ventura, CA (Los Angeles, Thousand Oaks: crime, house, neighborhoods)

[zippymaus]

My family is considering relocating from Los Angeles to Ventura, CA. It seems like a nice, family-oriented town. However we heard something about them having problems with crime and motorcycle gangs. Is this a real problem?

Could anyone tell me any information they have about this area? Every town has crime, but we want to make sure we're not moving from a neighborhood that's now on the downslide into more problems.

Also, any general information from locals is welcomed too. Thanks!

[Charles]

The "rough" area if Ventura is along North Ventura Ave, parallel to CA-33. There are plenty of nice neighborhoods in Ventura.

[zippymaus]

It doesn't seem like a crime ridden place, and it seems like it has the right blend of small town, vintage architecture, and things to do that we're looking for. So we wanted to make sure we're headed in the right direction. Thanks again!

[DowntownVentura]

Along Ventura Ave has traditionally been rougher but over the last few years, there has been a different blend of people moving in so it is neutralizing quite a bit. Still not a place I would raise children but I ride my bicycle through there all the time with no problems at all. Oh, the Hells Angels do have a club house there but they don't bother people that aren't bothering them.

Going east from there....

Downtown is not for kids either. It is a nice enough area, just nothing for them to do.

Midtown is a favorite part of town of mine. All 1920's homes. They are small but I really like the look. They are single family homes with yards and other kids.

The section between midtown all the way to the eastern part of Ventura is family oriented. There are a couple of pockets that are perhaps not as desirable. Montalvo and Saratoga are areas that you might want to avoid.

The very eastern part of Ventura through Saticoy I would definitely avoid.

I like Ventura, the beach and weather can't be beat but as far as raising children go, the eastern part of Ventura County (Simi, Moorpark, and Thousand Oaks) is a stronger family neighborhood.

[Winston Smith]

Originally Posted by zippymaus

It doesn't seem like a crime ridden place, and it seems like it has the right blend of small town, vintage architecture, and things to do that we're looking for. So we wanted to make sure we're headed in the right direction. Thanks again!

Ventura is rough around the edges, but a big improvement over most areas of L.A. IMO. Trouble spots are the lower Avenue (Stanley to Main), Montalvo (near the Metrolink platform, west of Johnson south of Bristol) and parts of the unincorporated east-end, Saticoy (not part of the City). Families seem to like east Ventura for its conventional tract homes and suburban feel. My personal favorite area is mid-town and downtown, older 20s homes, walk everywhere. That said, downtown and the waterfront has a lot of panhandling going on. There was a homeless man killed in Plaza Park by the Santa Clara Street post office not long ago. Apparently a fight between him and another homeless man. It happened on a weekday during daytime hours.

[californio sur]

Ventura [both the city & county] are practically crime-free compared to Los Angeles. I think the biggest conflicts are local surfers fighting valley surfers

[user_id]

Originally Posted by californio sur

Ventura [both the city & county] are practically crime-free compared to Los Angeles.

Not really, Ventura county has its good and bad areas just like Los Angeles. People in Ventura county tend to have a phobia of Los Angeles though, they think its all crime ridden.