1st Advantage MortgageIn Ventura County, California, the typical household earns $109,797 a year and the typical rent is $2,317. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Ventura County
- Work, industries and travel time in Ventura County
- Paychecks and income spread in Ventura County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Ventura County
- Places inside Ventura County
- Regional comparison for Ventura County
- Debt-to-income at Ventura County's medians
- People and households in Ventura County
- Borrowing situations common in Ventura County
- Steps before you apply in Ventura County
- Licensing and complaints for Ventura County
- More guides for Ventura County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Ventura County
Ventura County is home to about 837,469 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 12th most populous of 58 county-level areas in California. It covers 1,841 square miles of land, or about 455 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 24 Census places inside Ventura County, Oxnard leads by population with about 200,928; 10 of the 24 are incorporated.
Work, industries and travel time in Ventura County
The biggest employer of Ventura County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 5% locally and 2% for California. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 70% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 4.1% of the total (7.1% statewide).
| Where residents work | Ventura County | Difference from California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.5% | -0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.8% | -1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | +0.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.3% | +1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.1% | -0.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.2% | +0.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Paychecks and income spread in Ventura County
Half of Ventura County households take in less than $109,797 a year and half take in more, 11% above the California median of $99,122.
| Household income | Ventura County | vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.7% | -4.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 31.7% | -1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.6% | +3.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 22.0% | +1.5 pts |
Some 14% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 55% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 9.3%, 3 points lower than the state's 12.0%. For a borrower in Ventura County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Rent, home values and ownership in Ventura County
A typical Ventura County rental runs $2,317 a month including utilities, which is 14% above California. 59% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 29% spend half or more. Home values center on $822,700, or 7.5 years of median income. The ownership rate is 65%. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Ventura County | California | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $2,317/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $822,700 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 38% | 38% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 5% | 7% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Places inside Ventura County
The table lists the 14 largest of 24 Census places in Ventura County, by population. Together all 24 hold about 800,257 people, so roughly 4% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $70,192 in Meiners Oaks to $250,001 in Bell Canyon. City guides exist for the linked Ventura County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxnard | city | 200,928 | $96,212 | $2,032 | 12 mi |
| Simi Valley | city | 125,634 | $122,081 | $2,579 | 23 mi |
| Thousand Oaks | city | 125,205 | $135,603 | $2,664 | 19 mi |
| San Buenaventura (Ventura) | city | 109,857 | $103,069 | $2,198 | 9 mi |
| Camarillo | city | 70,186 | $113,428 | $2,734 | 11 mi |
| Moorpark | city | 35,854 | $148,480 | $2,559 | 15 mi |
| Santa Paula | city | 31,376 | $79,294 | $1,736 | 4 mi |
| Port Hueneme | city | 21,582 | $92,660 | $2,228 | 14 mi |
| Fillmore | city | 16,816 | $92,931 | $1,870 | 13 mi |
| Oak Park | CDP | 13,757 | $163,085 | $3,149 | 24 mi |
| Ojai | city | 7,577 | $82,656 | $1,955 | 9 mi |
| Mira Monte | CDP | 6,888 | $72,879 | $2,017 | 10 mi |
| El Rio | CDP | 6,368 | $72,598 | $2,089 | 8 mi |
| Oak View | CDP | 6,141 | $110,440 | $2,271 | 10 mi |
Regional comparison for Ventura County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (51 to 125 miles). Income ranges from $70,210 in Kern County to $116,289 in Orange County; 1 of these neighbors top Ventura County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ventura County | - | $109,797 | $2,317/mo | 65% |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 51 mi | $90,112 | $1,954/mo | 46% |
| Santa Barbara County, CA | 53 mi | $98,161 | $2,131/mo | 52% |
| Kern County, CA | 72 mi | $70,210 | $1,300/mo | 60% |
| Orange County, CA | 91 mi | $116,289 | $2,434/mo | 56% |
| San Luis Obispo County, CA | 103 mi | $97,446 | $1,992/mo | 62% |
| Kings County, CA | 125 mi | $70,995 | $1,331/mo | 54% |
Debt-to-income at Ventura County's medians
Ventura County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $109,797 a year is $9,150 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $2,317, or 25 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $977 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $2,317, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Ventura County
Degree holders: 36% of adults over 25. 7.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Ventura County | California | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 36.1% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.9% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.3% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.8% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.3% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.7% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 42.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.4% |
| 60+ min | 7.7% |
Borrowing situations common in Ventura County
A few patterns in the Ventura County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Six-figure budgets. For the 55% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Rent squeeze. 59% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Steps before you apply in Ventura County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Ventura County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Ventura County borrowers answers to the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The California guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Ventura County
City guides inside Ventura County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Ventura County earn?
The median is $109,797; 55% earn $100,000 or more and 14% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Ventura County rent compare with California?
$2,317 locally versus $2,036 for the state, 14% above.
I live in a small Ventura County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Oxnard, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, San Buenaventura (Ventura), Camarillo and 19 more.
Are Ventura County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Where can someone in Ventura County check a lender's license?
With the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.