For decades, Los Angeles has represented opportunity, energy, and the epicenter of Southern California living. But in the last few years, a growing number of Angelenos have been quietly packing their bags — not to leave California entirely, but to relocate just one hour up the coast to a place that feels more relaxed, more authentic, and surprisingly more attainable: Ventura County.
The shift isn’t a fluke. It’s a movement. And it’s gaining momentum faster than any other relocation trend in Southern California.
Each year, more buyers arrive in Ventura and Oxnard from neighborhoods like Sherman Oaks, Woodland Hills, Silver Lake, Burbank, Santa Monica, and even Orange County. Families, professionals, remote workers, and retirees aren’t leaving for a slower life — they’re choosing Ventura County because it offers a healthier blend of lifestyle, affordability, and community while still keeping them connected to Los Angeles when needed.
At Realty ONE Group Summit, we speak to these buyers constantly — people who never thought they’d leave L.A. until they discovered something better waiting just a short drive up the 101.
The biggest reason for this movement is simple: Ventura County feels like what Southern California used to be. There’s space. There’s nature. There’s community. There’s a coastline you can actually enjoy without crowds, noise, or impossible parking. Ventura offers a walkable beach town atmosphere with a thriving arts scene, local businesses, and outdoor recreation that wraps around every part of daily life. Oxnard provides marina living, beach neighborhoods, and some of the last truly attainable coastal properties in all of California — the kind of waterfront lifestyle people assume exists only in postcards.
For many former Angelenos, the first visit is the turning point. They walk the Ventura Pier at sunset, grab coffee along Main Street, or stroll through the Ventura Harbor Village — and something clicks. They realize they can still be close to the entertainment industry, tech employers, and job networks… but without the density, the heat, the noise, or the $1.5M median home prices that have become standard in Los Angeles.
Source: https://www.zillow.com/los-angeles-ca/home-values/
In Ventura County, the numbers tell a different story. According to Redfin, Ventura’s median home price is around $1.03M, Oxnard sits closer to $785K, and Camarillo averages near $906K — a dramatic difference from the L.A. market.
External links:
https://www.redfin.com/city/20982/CA/Ventura
https://www.redfin.com/city/23616/CA/Oxnard
https://www.redfin.com/city/2910/CA/Camarillo
But affordability isn’t the only driver. Remote work has fundamentally changed the definition of “commutable distance.” The hybrid workforce doesn’t need to live 10 minutes from the office — they need to live where they feel balanced. Ventura County offers a lifestyle where mornings begin with an ocean breeze, afternoons can be spent outdoors, and evenings are quieter, calmer, and free from the pressure of big-city living.
Then there’s the natural beauty. Ventura County has preserved large areas of open space, mountain trails, farmland, and coastline. From Ojai’s valley sunrises to the wild beaches of Oxnard’s Mandalay Shores, the region delivers a kind of everyday beauty that feels restorative. For buyers leaving Los Angeles, this feels less like moving and more like exhaling.
Another underrated factor is community culture. Ventura County still feels neighborly. Local businesses know your name. Farmers markets thrive. Coffee shops, art walks, and surf shops feel personal rather than commercialized. Parents consistently choose Ventura because schools feel safer and more connected, with strong districts like Ventura Unified, Pleasant Valley, Conejo Valley, and Ojai Unified.
External link: https://www.cvusd.us/
For buyers leaving L.A., this sense of community is priceless.
The ripple effect of this relocation trend is already shaping the real estate market. Homes in Ventura’s Midtown, Pierpont Beach, and East Ventura neighborhoods are seeing heightened demand from buyers priced out of coastal Los Angeles. Oxnard’s waterfront communities — from Hollywood Beach to Mandalay Bay — are becoming magnets for hybrid professionals who want what Santa Monica or Marina del Rey can no longer offer at a realistic price.
The biggest surprise? Many buyers say they didn’t fully intend to move until they saw what they could get. A $900K fixer in the Valley becomes a turn-key beach home in Oxnard. A small condo in Santa Monica becomes a single-family home near Ventura College or Kimball Park. A crowded street in Echo Park becomes a quiet cul-de-sac in Camarillo.
It’s not that people want to leave Los Angeles — it’s that Ventura County finally gives them an alternative that makes sense.
As we move deeper into 2025, every economic indicator suggests this relocation wave will continue. L.A. is still vibrant and full of opportunity, but Ventura County offers the lifestyle balance people need more than ever.
If you’re one of the many considering the move, or you're simply curious what Ventura County has to offer, Realty ONE Group Summit is here to help you explore neighborhoods, compare lifestyles, and find the right fit.
Start your Ventura County relocation journey here:
👉 https://rogsummit.com/contact/
