SperlingViews - Thousand_Oaks, California

I have lived here over 10 years. I'm not sure what some of the reviewers are talking about, as it pertains to "nothing to do for kids" here. We have a fantastic Parks and Recs program, Lacrosse, Baseball, and every sport imaginable to enroll children in- if you choose to be involved in your children’s activities and take them. Miles of cycling lanes bring people from all over the area to ride. We also have endless miles of off-road biking, hiking and horse trails. We have movie theaters, roller rinks and shopping malls. We have it all! The weather if fantastic, the city clean and maxed build out here means we still have amazing amounts of open space and wilderness around us. Stray cats are none existent, so don't let your animals out of your backyard- coyotes, bobcats, and other predators are around. Crime is very low and yes housing is expensive, but it's expensive throughout California, so that is relative to where you are accustomed to living. Traffic is very little in comparison to other areas in California. Most people would call it very light. But it is a commuter town for most workers, so if you do leave the area, you will run into freeway traffic. This is definitely a nice place to raise a family.[read more...]

It comes with a price. Prices of homes are in the low to mid 400's (now, 10/10). A couple of years ago the same homes were mid 600's. The cheapest of condos in a good area were about 375K for under 1000 sq ft. Now they are under 200k. So a great time to buy if you're thinking of moving to Thousand Oaks. I have found the quality of life in T.O. is wonderful if you're making 6 digits. There's 137 signalized intersections in this 54 sq mile city. Dont plan on going anywhere without getting stuck in traffic. Build out is, built out, so, we're maxerd out as the saying goes. The City infrastructure is solid, with a very good employment base, Baxter, Amgen, and a lot of retail malls. Weather is hard to beat, beautiful (albeit crowded in the Summer) beaches are just 20 miles away. The small town atmosphere it USED to have is all but gone. Nothing for kids to do, except go to the movies. The bowling alley, skate rinks are gone. T.O. is borderline "hoidy toidy"![read more...]

if you have a teenager this is a bad place to move there is not much for a teen to do leading them into trouble the city tears down anything built by kids such as dirt jumps [read more...]

I've lived here more than 18 years. It's a wonderful place to raise kids. I have 2 boys who attended (1 still attending) one of the most excellent public school systems you'll find. However, my biggest complaint is many of the schools have become so overcrowded even before the budget cuts. Thousand Oaks High School is especially overcrowded. It's a low crime area though, and has made the top 5, in lists for "lowest crime rates per capita" in consecutive national surveys. In addition to great schools and low crime, it's got beautiful weather almost all year round and some of the best public parks and open space areas that are nearby. Beaches are also in close proximity. As one of the best "planned" communities in Southern California, it continues to attract new families every year. Consequently, the city is becoming more crowded and the traffic continues to get worse. LA is close enough to commute to, but it's a slow, congested, long commute. As large as the population is, it still feels like a small town because people are friendly and family oriented. Yes, the cost of living is high and gets more expensive all the time, so if you can find a good paying job this is a great place to live and raise a family, but as I mentioned there are a few drawbacks.[read more...]

Spring is warm and wonderful. Varies between 72-90. Just a few spring showers during the season. Allergies can be tough because there are so many flowering trees and other flowering foliage throughout the city. Summers very hot, especially in August. 90-101. Winters are mild. 60-75. "Devil" winds (Santa Annas they're called), are the worst part of our weather conditions. High and very hot from September - early November.[read more...]

The Newbury Park area of Thousand Oaks is about 5 miles NW of the Thousand Oaks civic center. Because we are closer to the coastal plains the weather is typically 7-10 degrees cooler than Thousand Oaks civic center in the summer.[read more...]

Although Thousand Oaks has become an expensive city to live in and has very little public transportation, the weather, great public schools, lots of open space, public hiking trails, and proximity to the beach keep it very popular. It rarely gets over 80 or colder than 50. We still have clean air most of the year. Our library is FABULOUS! and so is our Sr. Center and Teen Center. When I moved here from LA more than 20 years ago it was a "white bread" community with very little diversity. Now my neighborhood is full of every nationality and color you can think of: white, black, Indian, Chinese,Mexican, South American, Asian, Arab, and from all countries of the world. With Amgen and Dole our big employers, we have mostly college graduates. We used to have mostly Lutheran Churches since it was founded by Scandinavians and we have CLU (California Lutheran University) here. Now we are diversified with churches and temples and mosques of all religions. thousand Oaks isn't "racist" but expects people to be polite, quiet, and kind to each other. We have only 2 police officers in the town of over 100,000. To show what a "kind' town it is, when my kids were in jr. high the police were "kind" enough to bring my son home if he was out after "curfew" of 10pm. When my daughter stayed out late and didn't call (before cell phones)the police came to my house to take a report on her. Lucky me, she came home while the police were there! How many cities care that much for its' citizens. It is really nice having a caring community with little crime. But crime is on the rise with banks getting robbed because of the recession.[read more...]

I actually life in Camarillo[read more...]

Basically, average housing costs about 640,000[read more...]

Thousand Oaks has a beautiful climate, miles of open space for hiking and biking, a low crime rate, ample plays and concerts, a fabulous Park and Rec Center, good churches and schools, plenty of places to eat and shop and is 20 minutes from the beach and a couple of hours from great wineries.The city has been well-planned with pretty, well-maintained neighborhoods and roads that loop around green or golden hills. The city government still listens to the constituents (sometimes). It makes me think of Camelot from the Lerner & Lowe musical play: "the winter is forbidden til December and exits March the second on the spot; by order summer lingers through September in Camelot..." A wonderful place to live. Unfortunately, T.O. has been discovered by Hollywood types and doesn't feel as homey anymore. Too many people, too much traffic, but still the best place in California. [read more...]

One of the best climates in the world. Mild all year round. We are above the coastal California fog, but usually about 10-15 degrees cooler in summer than the hot inland valleys.[read more...]

todo mas espensive aqui![read more...]

This city in which I live has a very nice weather the year around. In winter time not so cold and summer time not so hot[read more...]

little crime, still has family town atmosphere, although has grown significantly over the last 15 years and the cost of living and housing are very high[read more...]

Thousand Oaks resides in Ventura County. Median house costs are approximately $650,000. This will get you a basic house with 3 bedrooms, two baths and an average lot. Average age of house you will be buying can range from the 1960s through to the late 1970s.[read more...]

Just connect the demographic dots to understand why Thousand Oaks is one of the safest cities in the U.S. and why its schools are top notch.[read more...]

Quiet area. If you are seen 'driving while black or non-white' expect to get pulled over for no reason. Very racist area.[read more...]

Lived in thousand oaks 7 years. Housing is way overpriced. Weather is very good. People are somewhat friendly, but the city is becoming very yuppie like. A lot of people into their appearance. The town feels very superficial, but on the bright side has very good schools.[read more...]

Over the last 20 years the Los Angeles metro area has grown outward to where Thousand Oaks is no longer a rural community but rather more of a suburb. While it's crime rate is still very low, I think a resident needs to be more cognizant of his surroundings than he would need to be say 10 years ago. Much of the property crimes seems to be caused by transients coming into the city to commit a crime and then fleeing back to LA. Crimes against persons in Thousand Oaks are very low and appear to usually be between individuals who know each other rather than random acts of violence.[read more...]

The best library ever. There is a full selection of new books to catch up on. Website to find out what is available, place books on hold or make requests for future purchases. New children's section with huge aquarium, reading section and reading room. Fantastic.[read more...]