Rob Dawg’s neighborhood! Hat tip to Eddie89 for sending this in:
Surf, sun and year-round moderate temperatures can sometimes come at a cost.
With a reputation as one of the most expensive states in the U.S., California (thankfully) still has some economically sound places to reside – if you know where to look.
Just to be clear: We didn’t just create this list based solely on the cheapest places to live. The cost of living was part of our methodology, but so was the quality of life, as well as the key components of transportation, housing, food and utilities.
Here are the 5 most affordable cities in California:
- Oxnard
- Ventura
- Simi Valley
- Vacaville
- Camarillo
1. Oxnard
About an hour north of Los Angeles, Oxnard offers beachfront living at an affordable price.
The median household income here is $62,349 with median home value settling at $332,600, which is actually a great deal for California real estate.
Golf, winery visits and strolls on Mandalay Beach are all part of living in Oxnard.
With fertile agricultural land surrounding the city, many crops grow in the region. But Oxnard is most famous for its strawberries, with the popular California Strawberry Festival held here each year.
The city has the nickname of the “Gateway to the Channel Islands,” a nearby national park and marine sanctuary.
Link to Full Article
Four out of the five cities mentioned are in Ventura County. Could have simply mentioned that Ventura County remains a bargain in the Southern California region.
That picture is from the iconic Grant’s Park above the city of San Buenaventura. The Dawghaus is about 60 degrees to the left in another city mentioned, Camarillo. VenCo has a number of pluses. Indeed, many of the negatives are mere memories of times past. Unfortunately the median home is not $332k. Closer to $620k. I have no idea where they got their number.
For a general perspective; VenCo is Orange County minus 40 years or San Diego minus half their build-out. Neither comparison is an insult to either. Different strokes and all that. What attracted me was a solid sense of self that included not killing off the past or what was already working. People are shocked to find out that in the mid 1960s, VenCo and Orange County were virtually identical by the numbers. Population, agriculture, etc. The OC is 3-4 times more populous and nothing like what it once was.
Oxnard? ummm, no……unless you gangs are your thang’. Are they are including Port Hueneme as part of greater Oxnard.
Most cities have safe and not so safe neighborhoods. I’m sure Oxnard is no exception. So, potential buyers should always do their research in advance and of course “Get Good Help!” when it comes time to pull the trigger, no pun intended.
https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ca/oxnard/crime
Ah, yes, Vacaville. Nothing says “great place to live” like “California State Prison, Solano” and “California Medical Facility.” I think i’d pass on that bargain.
As RD says there’s some nice stuff in Ventura. But also some gnarly – probably not that different than OC to be honest. OC isn’t all Newport and CDM, there’s Anaheim and Garbage Grove. Ventura is no different. You could do a lot worse!
Another list – Oxnard made this one too!
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/10/california-cities-where-business-is-booming-and-salaries-are-rising.html