Named for the flourishing valley oaks that shade its streets, Thousand Oaks is one of the most sought-after spots in Ventura County and the greater Los Angeles area. It has long attracted commuters with its spacious communities, top-notch schools and countryside surroundings just 40 miles northeast of downtown LA. However, residents have had to rely less on the drive in recent years as the city has become a hub for biotech startups. "We're seeing a lot of biotech startups and investment from incubators. Everything from cell-grown meat labs to companies making nonopioid pain medicine," says Danielle Borja, president of the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce. Logic might say that more business would make it busier, but it has actually added to the city's easy-going lifestyle. "The new businesses and increase in remote working have allowed people to settle down in Thousand Oaks, where they can enjoy a much more relaxed, residential pace of life," says Borja. This includes taking in the valley and ocean views while hiking and horseback riding across the surrounding Santa Monica Mountains.
The walking trail at Northwood Neighborhood Park is perfect for walking your furry friends.
Horses can be found throughout the Thousand Oaks area on horse ranches.
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A biotech breeding ground
Thousand Oaks has seen millions of dollars worth of investments in recent years, especially from the healthcare and pharmaceutical companies, like large pharmaceutical producer Amgen and startups like Latigo Biotherapeutics, developing nonopioid pain relievers. Omeat is another up-and-comer creating cell-grown meat in their Thousand Oaks product development lab. The city's biotech growth is heavily funded by venture capital firms like Westlake BioPartners, who have invested nearly $500 million in the Thousand Oaks area. Large healthcare facilities are also investing in the community, like Los Robles Regional Medical Center, which is planning to break ground on an $85 million expansion of its comprehensive cancer center by the end of 2024. Most of these are located in the cluster of commercial space on the city's west side, and residents can get to these local employers by car or bus.
Many residents still make the 40-mile commute to downtown Los Angeles. They can take U.S. Route 101, which runs east to west through Thousand Oaks. Traffic Is heavy on the 101, especially through the San Fernando Valley, a few miles east. This can double the normally hour-long drive. Los Angeles International Airport is just over 40 miles southeast.
Suburban homes and country estates
Thousand Oaks is one of Ventura County's most expensive markets, with a median price of just over $1 million, compared to just over $800,000 in neighboring Simi Valley. Aside from the commercial activity along the 101, Thousand Oaks is almost entirely residential. Most homes are in the heart of Thousand Oaks, which has a suburban setting of malls, parks and sprawling communities. Even in this suburban layout, sidewalks and trails connect residents from their cul-de-sacs to the surrounding mountains. Westlake Village and Agoura Hills to the east are technically cities themselves, but they all blend together along the 101, so they can be considered smaller neighboring areas of Thousand Oaks. Westlake Village is a small, village-sized community between Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks. It has a median price of around $1.5 million for its spacious suburban homes with proximity to the area's best schools and shopping. The North Ranch community extends into the hills north of Westlake Village. It's home to many of the area's most expensive homes, with some panoramic estates exceeding $15 million. Agoura Hills lies on the east side of Westlake Village. Its suburban homes go for a similar price to those of Thousand Oaks. Still, it's best known for its countryside aesthetic in Old Agoura, where it's common to see residents traversing the streets on horseback and multi-acre equestrian estates range from $2 million to $7 million.
The city's relaxed atmosphere corresponds with its notably low crime rates. According to FBI data, Thousand Oaks' violent crime rate has consistently been well below state and national rates. In 2023, the city reported a rate of 26 offenses per 100,000 people, compared to California's 103 offenses per 100,000 people. This is a slight drop from 2019, when the city reported 32 offenses per 100,000 people.
Modern Spanish-style townhomes are spread throughout Thousand Oaks.
Multi-million dollar homes can be found throughout Thousand Oaks surrounded by mountains.
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A-plus public and private schools
The Conejo Valley Unified School District serves most of Thousand Oaks and receives an A-plus overall rating from Niche. All its schools are rated a B-minus or better. A-plus-rated Westlake High is a standout of the district, located in Westlake Village on the east side of Thousand Oaks. Agoura Hills and the east side of Westlake Village are part of the A-plus-rated Las Virgenes Unified School District. Every school in the district receives an A rating.
Students can also choose one of the area's decorated private schools, like Oaks Christian School, Niche's No. 6 best Christian high school in California. Its campus resides in Westlake Village, across the road from Westlake High. The A-plus-rated St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School is another popular choice for kindergarten through eighth grade in Thousand Oaks.
Acacia Elementary School serves over 350 students and is a magnet school with an A- Niche score.
California Lutheran University is a 240 acre private university located in Thousand Oaks, CA.
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Over 15,000 acres of natural space
Thousand Oaks' footprint encompasses more than 15,000 acres of natural space, and that doesn't even count neighboring communities like Westlake Village and Agoura Hills. These outdoor spaces include community parks, botanical gardens, trails woven throughout residential streets and expansive open spaces across the surrounding mountains. Wildwood Regional Park borders Thousand Oaks' northwest side. This 1,700-acre space has miles of trails leading from residential streets to sights like Paradise Falls. Westlake Village residents can hike down into the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, an expansive reserve with over 500 miles of trails between Thousand Oaks and the shores of Malibu. Horseback riding is common throughout the Thousand Oaks area, but it's especially popular in Agoura Hills. Riders enjoy equestrian trails running through the community and across the mountains. Golfers can play at public courses like Los Robles Greens and Westlake Golf Course, or join private clubs like North Ranch Country Club.
There are many trails at Wildwood Regional Park in Thousand Oaks, Ca.
Locals enjoy catching up and walking their pets at Russell Park in Thousand Oaks.
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Shopping and appreciating the arts
The city's commercial activity is focused along Hillcrest Drive, parallel to U.S. Route 101. This main shopping area of Thousand Oaks has large retail malls like The Oaks and specialty grocers like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. Restaurants and breweries are mixed in among the shopping centers. The area's luxury side comes out down the road in Westlake Village, where there are high-end exercise clubs like Equinox and a visible concentration of luxury car dealers. Folks in Agoura Hills — just west of Westlake — have a few restaurants to choose from but go to Westlake Village for most of their shopping. Civic Arts Plaza is Thousand Oaks' premier venue for live shows, musicals, concerts, ballets and more. The complex has multiple theaters sitting along Thousand Oaks Boulevard.
The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks is the largest mall in Ventura County.
The Civic Arts Plaza features Thousand Oaks City Hall and a preforming arts center.
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The 2018 Woosley Fire
Many people might have become familiar with Thousand Oaks during national news coverage of the 2018 Woosley Fire. Thousand Oaks was just one of many communities in Ventura County and Los Angeles County affected by the fire. Despite burning almost 100,000 acres, the fire didn't gain attention for its size; the concern came with its proximity to residential areas. It destroyed about 1,600 structures, including 31 homes in Thousand Oaks. It also forced almost 300,000 people to evacuate. Of course, wildfires of this scale are not an everyday occurrence, but smaller brush fires are common in the hills around Thousand Oaks. The city averages around 35 rainy days a year with warm summers and mild winters, creating a dry climate where these smaller fires have the potential to spread. The most important step residents should take to prepare for fires is to have an established evacuation plan. Homeowners are also encouraged to create a defensible space around their homes by removing overgrown brush from the perimeter of their properties to keep fires from spreading too close.
Call Collin St. Johns directly at (818) 312 - 2171
Real estate broker with over 26 years experience in residential, multi-residential, and light commercial sales. Over 1,000 documented closed residential transactions. Areas of expertise include listing/seller representation, buyer representation, trust administration sales, probate, bankruptcy, divorce, distressed/NOD sales, and new construction. Known for being extremely "hands-on" and a tireless problem solver, Collin offers an array of additional services - call him directly to find out more!
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
