Oxnard

Smack dab between Port Hueneme and downtown Oxnard, Bartolo Square North's central location gives residents an easy drive to work, entertainment and days of surfing at the beach without breaking the bank. "People are always surprised that this great location is still one of the most affordable neighborhoods in Oxnard," says Joe Lucia, Realtor in Oxnard since 2015 with RE/MAX Gold Coast. For the median price of $640,000, locals enjoy decent-sized midcentury homes and broad, sidewalk-lined streets leading to community schools and parks. During the week, commuters have a three-mile drive to Port Hueneme Naval Base, one of the city's largest employers. When the weekend comes around, folks catch the morning surf just over three miles away and drive just over a mile for entertainment in downtown Oxnard. In this location, homebuyers can find a laid-back, residential feel near all of Oxnard's attractions without spending an arm and a leg. "This is a busy area of town because of the naval base and beaches, but the neighborhood still has an easy-going, community feel," says Lucia. Generous streets and sidewalks allow neighbors to walk throughout the community. Spanish-inspired stucco exteriors on the midcentury homes give a laid-back Southern California feel. Even with this residential vibe and proximity to the beach, three-bedroom ranch-style homes with multicar driveways and a bit of yard space start at just $500,000. Similar-sized ranch-style homes with larger lawns can be found for about $640,000. Prices top out at $760,000 for four-bedroom ranch-styles and two-story Spanish-influenced homes offering more interior living space. Durley Park is the neighborhood's recreation hub, a short walk from most homes. Along with basketball courts and a playground, the park has multiple baseball fields where local Little League stars round the bases during the spring months. When folks aren't at Durley Park, there's a good chance they're surfing at one of Oxnard's three beaches. Silver Strand Beach is the most popular spot to shred the morning break and drop into tubular barrels, while Oxnard Beach is busy with folks enjoying casual fun in the sun. Bartolo Square North is just over a mile walk or drive from downtown Oxnard. Here, folks can dine on traditional SoCal taco joints like Sabor and taste the region's fresh catch at Ohtani's seafood. Residents get their essential goods at Walmart and Superior Grocers, about a mile away at Centerpoint Mall. The Collection at Riverpark Plaza is the city's main shopping destination. Along with a plethora of retail shops, the Center has a Target and a Whole Foods. Next to the Collection, there's a Costco and a Sam's Club for big-box shopping trips. The neighborhood is a part of Oxnard School District, which is graded a C-minus overall by Niche. Kids get their Start at McKinna Elementary, rated a D-plus, and is a short walk from many homes. They continue at the Kamala School, graded a C-minus. Students finish at Oxnard High, graded a B, which is a part of Oxnard Union High School District, rated a B overall. Oxnard High was established in 1902, making it the oldest public school in the city. In that time it has developed award-winning athletic programs, most recently the women's soccer team, who won the 2023 CIF-State SoCal Division III regional championship. Concerts downtown and on the oceanfront The Concerts by the Sea Concert Series is a go-to event on summer afternoons. Locals gather on the lawn of Harbor View Park in Channel Islands Harbor to listen to a worldly line-up of artists while breathing in the fresh, salt air. The Oxnard Performing Arts Center is also just north of the neighborhood downtown. The Center hosts an eclectic mix of live shows and musical performances. Port Hueneme Naval Base and Port, two of the city's largest employers, are just three miles south of the neighborhood. Folks working here can also take a short bus ride to the Port. Commuters may also hop on Route 101 for a 10-mile drive to Ventura or a 23-mile drive to Thousand Oaks. Oxnard Transit Station also offers a 26-minute train ride to Ventura. Military personnel also have a convenient 11-mile drive to Port Mugu Naval Air Station on the Pacific Coast Highway.

It’s hard to imagine a Southern California neighborhood near the oceanfront that doesn’t cost millions, but it’s still possible in Bartolo Square South. “The neighborhood is drawing more people because it’s still one of the most affordable in Oxnard,” says Joe Lucia, Realtor for nine years in Oxnard with RE/MAX Gold Coast. Folks aren’t just moving here because it’s affordable, it also has a prime location in Oxnard. “It has a great central location, with proximity to the navy base and the oceanfront,” says Lucia. Sitting at the northeast corner of Port Hueneme Naval Base, the neighborhood offers short weekday commutes and easy days of surfing at the beach on the weekend. In Bartolo Square South, homebuyers can be three miles from the beach for less than half the price of a similar-sized home in Malibu or Thousand Oaks. This residential neighborhood sports a mix of ranch-style homes and geometric midcentury designs with stucco exteriors accompanied by driveways and a bit of green space in the front and back for the median price of just $650,000. Residents can traverse the community streets on sidewalks that take them to nearby schools and restaurants. At the low end of the range, prices start at $430,000 for two-bedroom ranch-styles. Homebuyers looking in the high end of the neighborhood’s range can find four-bedroom ranch-styles and asymmetric midcentury builds for up to $730,000. Folks walk or drive around the block to the Port Place Shoppes and Hueneme Bay Center, in the neighborhood’s southwest corner, to grab a bite at casual Southern California eateries like Jalisco’s Mexican Restaurant or Sushi-Ichi 805. Locals also drive less than a mile to Centerpoint Mall and Island Plaza on Saviers Road to shop for necessities at Walmart and Superior Grocers. For serious shopping trips, folks head five miles north to the River Park Shopping Center, where they browse the aisles at Target and Whole Foods. Along with large retailers like REI and Nordstrom Rack, River Park has a long list of clothing stores and fun dining options. Next to River Park, folks can fill their pantry at Costco or Sam’s Club and check out the region's fresh catch at Seafood City Supermarket. Surfing is the main pastime in Oxnard, and surfers in the neighborhood are three miles from three different beaches. The most popular boarding destination is Silver Strand Beach, at the peninsula's tip, where the waves converge to form the most shreddable barrels and breaks. Locals looking for calmer beach days drive to Port Hueneme Beach or Oxnard Beach. Oxnard Beach is the busiest of these options, with a selection of beachfront restaurants and large marinas for boaters to keep their vessel. Residents can also walk down West Kamala Street to play basketball and baseball or climb on the playground at Rudolph Beck Memorial Park. Neighborhood students may attend Oxnard School District, graded an overall C-minus by Niche. Kids walk down the street to get their start at the Kamala School for kindergarten through eighth grade, which is graded a C-minus. Students continue at Oxnard High, rated a B, which is a part of the B-plus-rated Oxnard Union High School District. Established in 1902, Oxnard High is the city’s oldest public school. It boasts storied athletic programs that have won championships since the 1920s. Most recently, the women’s soccer team took home the 2023 CIF-State SoCal Division III regional title. Locals have a front-row seat to Oxnard’s hottest event, the Salsa Festival, which takes place just north of the neighborhood in downtown Oxnard during the last weekend in July. The festival revolves around everything salsa, the music, the dance and the food. Another go-to summer event is the Concerts by the Sea Summer Concert Series. Locals gather on the lawn of Harbor View Park in Channel Islands Harbor to listen to a worldly line-up of artists while breathing in the fresh, salt air. Residents have an easy two-mile drive down North Ventura Road to the main entrance of Port Hueneme Naval Construction Battalion Center, home to two of the city’s largest employers, the naval base and the shipping docks at the port’s entrance. Commuters might also drive to the north end of town to hop on Route 101 for a 12-mile drive north to Ventura or a 24-mile drive south to Thousand Oaks. Locals headed to Ventura can also take a 12-minute direct train ride from the Oxnard Transit Station.

Blackstock North offers a suburban atmosphere just 3 miles from Oxnard’s Southern California beachfront, so it might be a shock that the median price is only $625,000. “The prices are eye-catching, but people don’t move here to find a cheap place to live. They come to be near Port Hueneme and the other big employers in this part of the city,” says Lorenzo Castillo, a broker with Exit Castillo Realty since 2008, specializing in Oxnard. Port Hueneme’s naval base and seaport are 3 miles west. This is also one of the closer locations in Oxnard to California State University’s Channel Islands Campus, 9 miles east. Along with an easy commute, the neighborhood’s grid layout makes walking to schools and parks easy. The neighborhood blocks surround Larsen Elementary, which is an easy walk from most homes on the grid sidewalks. Grassy lawns and 1950s ranch-style homes are prominent features that give the neighborhood a suburban look. “Prices haven’t risen much here because the homes are older and smaller than north Oxnard, but they’re still good options,” says Castillo. Prices start around $550,000 for three-bedroom ranch-styles, and four-bedroom ranch-style can cost about $700,000. Larger options include four-to-five-bedroom midcentury homes, ranging in price from $700,000 to $800,000. The beach is the main source of activity in this part of Oxnard. Port Hueneme Beach is where residents go for easy beach days, only 3 miles away. There’s plenty of sandy shoreline for sunbathing by the waves, and Port Hueneme Pier is a popular fishing spot at the beach. Oxnard Beach is the city’s most popular beachfront, 4 miles west. There’s enough here to fill a day with beachfront activity, from surfing, playing in the parks, or checking out the boats in Channel Islands Harbor. Johnson Creek Park is a few blocks south of the neighborhood, so residents walk here for recreation when they don’t feel like going to the beach. The park has a playground and green space to play in. Ansgar Larsen Elementary is in the heart of the community and is a short walk from many homes. Charles Blackstock Junior High is a few blocks south. Both schools receive a C-minus grade from Niche and are part of the D-plus-graded Hueneme Elementary School District. The neighborhood is also a part of the Oxnard Union High School District, rated a B-plus overall. Students round out their education at B-minus-graded Channel Islands High. Channel Islands’ Career Education programs can help students pursue chosen fields like Medicine and Marine Science. Saviers Road, on the neighborhood’s west side, has a few casual spots to grab a bite. Mariscos El Pulpo is a neighborhood go-to for Southern California seafood. Across the road, Carnitas Mi Rancho serves fresh fried carnitas, handmade tortillas and other authentic Mexican fare. Downtown Oxnard’s selection of taco shops is a couple of miles north. Centerpoint Mall, at the neighborhood’s northwest corner, offers essential shopping less than a mile from many homes. Walmart and Superior Grocers cover most necessities. The Collection at Riverpark offers tons of retail shopping 5 miles north. Blackstock North is pretty quiet, so residents walk 2 miles north to downtown for events. The Downtown Oxnard Farmers Market, held every Thursday in Plaza Park, is a regular stop for many folks. It showcases the freshest produce grown right outside the city. Port Hueneme is 3 miles west, and its employment opportunities are a big draw to the neighborhood. It’s home to a naval base and a bustling deep-sea shipping port. The trip to Port Hueneme is short enough for folks to walk or take the bus if they don’t want to drive. Point Mugu Naval Air Station is another military hub 6 miles down the coast. Oxnard College is just over a mile east, and California State University Channel Islands campus is an even bigger employer 9 miles away. Longer commutes to destinations like Los Angeles might require a trip on Route 101, 5 miles north. Oxnard Transit Center offers a 2-hour train to LA for those looking to avoid the drive.

During his 1867 exploration of the California coastline, Thomas Bard hoped to establish a port at Point Hueneme, which derived its name from the native Chumash word wynema, meaning “half-way” or “resting place.” The growth of the port gave rise to the city of Oxnard, CA, now roughly midway between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Blackstock South is a neighborhood on Oxnard’s south side, just 3 miles from the Pacific Coast, combining an enclave of manufactured homes for adults 55 and up with a mix of cottages and bungalow-style ranch homes common to southern California. Local businesses pepper the neighborhood's edges, putting most household needs within a half-mile walk. Serving adults 55 and up, Imperial Oxnard Mobile Estates is a manufactured home community occupying the southeast corner of Blackstock South. Residents enjoy amenities like a community pool, clubhouse and bike trail. Beyond Imperial Oxnard, the streets surrounding Johnson Creek Park are lined with midcentury modern, ranch-style and traditional single-family homes. Prices in Blackstock South range from $120,000 for a two-bedroom manufactured home in Imperial Oxnard to $684,000 for a recently renovated four-bedroom, modern ranch-style home. Anchored by Superior Grocers and national chains like Walmart, Centerpoint Mall is a one-stop shop for everything from household goods to groceries. Also close by is The Collection at RiverPark, an outdoor mall with a vast retail, dining and entertainment selection. Visitors can shop at popular stores like REI and The Container Store, then catch the latest blockbuster at Century River Park 16. Dining options include familiar favorites like Texas de Brazil, Yard House and the Cheesecake Factory. When residents want a bite to eat a little closer to home, they head to local favorite Taqueria La Fogata for authentic Mexican staples such as tacos and burritos. For entertainment, nearby Oxnard College's School for the Performing Arts keeps a full calendar of performances for residents to enjoy. OC Live puts on live arts and culture programming with everything from music and dance to science, stories, art and more. Visitors can enjoy an eclectic mix of dynamic and inspiring performances, and better yet—it's free and open to the public. Students of Blackstock South can attend Ansgar Larsen Elementary School, which has an overall Niche grade of C-minus. For grades six through eight, students can go to Charles Blackstock Junior High School, which also earned a C-minus. Teens can attend Hueneme High School, which is a charter member of the Citrus Coast League, a conference within the CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS). In 2018, the girls' basketball team won its first CIF-SS championship. Hueneme earned a C-plus. Six-acre Johnson Creek Park has plenty to offer area athletes. The park has four baseball fields, a batting cage, a bullpen and dugouts for gameplay and bleachers for neighborhood fans. The park also features a playground for the kids, a paved walking trail and plenty of grassy green space for playing or relaxing. Residents can take their canine companions to the nearby College Park and let them loose at the off-leash dog park. College Park also has a skate park, soccer fields, picnic tables and a playground. Just 3 miles from the ocean, it's easy for residents to enjoy an afternoon at the beach, and it's just a 2-mile commute to the naval base at Port Hueneme for those who work there. Bus stops dot the landscape with routes running along major roads like Saviers and East Bard, and sidewalks line the long rectangular streets, making it easy to travel without a car. But for drivers, the SR-1 is nearby, offering access to US Highway 101; the major route provides a straight shot to Los Angeles 60 miles south and Santa Barbara 40 miles north.

Minutes away from the middle of Oxnard, Bryce Canyon North offers classic midcentury homes in a convenient locale. And they’re more reasonably priced here than in other neighborhoods around town, coming in comfortably under the median sale price for the wider Ventura County. “The main appeal of this neighborhood is twofold. It’s affordable and it’s centrally located,” says Kevin Webber, a realtor with Aviara Real Estate with nearly a decade of local experience. But there’s another reason Bryce Canyon North is popular. “A lot of families are interested in buying here because they grew up here and they still have family here. It’s a good place to grow up in and move back to,” he says. Pinnacle Estate Properties Realtor Mallory Clemmons, who sold a house in the neighborhood recently, agrees. “The buyers were interested mainly because it was close to family they already had here. It’s one of those neighborhoods that you could say just has a lot of returning customers,” she says. Homes on these palm tree-lined, gently curved streets tend to be ranch in style and clad in stucco. Most were built in the 1950s and ‘60s and list prices here hover between $600,000 and $750,000. “It’s more affordable than other parts of Oxnard,” says Webber, noting that while the price point attracts regular homebuyers, it also attracts investors. “There’s a lot of money to be made here. Some of the homes need a lot of work, but they’re affordable and on good-sized lots, which is attractive to anyone interested in redoing a home and getting a really good return on it,” he says. The Island Plaza and Centerpoint Mall shopping centers offer convenient two-stop shopping to Bryce Canyon North locals. Between the two destinations, there’s everything from Superior Grocers and Walmart to Harbor Freight. On either side of Saviers Road, the main thoroughfare dividing the two shopping centers, there are also eateries ranging from national chains like Popeyes and Taco Bell to more local stops like Yummy Hawaiian BBQ and La Michoacana Paleteria Y Neveria. Most kids go to Kamala School between kindergarten and eighth grade and Hueneme High School between ninth and 12th. In 2023, Kamala received a C-minus from Niche. Hueneme earned a slightly higher B-minus. Hueneme teens can earn college credit at the same time as they work toward their high school diplomas by taking advantage of the school’s dual enrollment programs. Through a partnership with the Ventura County Office of Education’s Career Education Center, they can learn technical skills in subjects like naval technologies or aviation. At the Oxnard campus of the Ventura County Community College District, The History of Rock Music and Introduction to Chicana/o Studies are both offered to high schoolers at no cost. Soak up the SoCal sun at one of the three beaches within 4 miles of home. At the closest, Port Hueneme Beach Park, residents can lounge on miles of sandy shore, fish off the pier and get active at the volleyball court. Feeling snackish? There’s also a snack bar. And on rare rainy days, the US Navy Seabee Museum and Mullin Automotive Museum are both less than 2 miles away. To catch the latest blockbuster, locals can make the 20-minute drive north to the Cinemark Century theater. In the same shopping center, The Collection at Riverpark, there’s also the Oxnard Levity Live, which hosts dinner shows featuring both local and national comedians. Stops on the Gold Coast Transit District’s bus lines are scattered along the outskirts and through the middle of the neighborhood. Most homes are within half a mile of the closest stop. For service members or civilians commuting to the Port Hueneme Naval Construction Battalion Center, the 2.3-mile drive from Bryce Canyon North takes just minutes.

Located in southern Oxnard, Bryce Canyon South offers residents a suburban lifestyle just minutes from the Pacific Ocean. With many homes near SoCal beaches generally costing multi-millions of dollars, this neighborhood is affordable given the amenities within reach. Small and compact, the community only spans a few blocks. Midcentury modern and ranch-style homes comprise the area, with short driveways leading to two-car garages. While lot sizes can run small, there's still plenty of room for front yards landscaped with local flora or extra-wide driveways. Home prices in the area range from $585,000 to $750,000. Mid-century modern and ranch-style homes comprise the area, with short driveways leading to two-car garages. While lot sizes can run small, there's still plenty of room for front yards landscaped with local flora or extra-wide driveways. Home prices in the area range from $585,000 to $750,000. Children in the area attend Parkview Elementary School, which has an overall Niche grade of C-minus. Next, kids attend E.O. Green Junior High School, which also has an overall Niche grade of C-minus. Teenagers attend Hueneme High School, which has an overall Niche grade of C-plus. The school is a charter member of the Citrus Coast League, a conference within the CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS). In 2018, the girls' basketball team won its first CIF-SS championship. Young athletes flock to Bryce Canyon South's Carty Park, where the Mermaid Softball League practices and plays. Nearby is the six-acre Johnson Creek Park, which offers everything an area athlete needs to play ball. There are four ball fields, a batting cage, a bullpen and dugouts for gameplay, and bleachers for neighborhood spectators. Baseball and softball aren't the only amenities on offer, however. The park also features a playground where kids can burn off some energy after a long day, a paved walking trail and plenty of grassy green space for playing or relaxing. When locals want to enjoy some fresh air and nature, they head to Bubbling Springs Park in nearby Port Hueneme. The 21-acre green space is bustling with activity in the summer, with families congregating at the baseball fields to support the Port Hueneme Little League and gathering for barbeque at the park's picnic tables. The park isn't just for baseball: there's also a colorful playground and plenty of open space for relaxing outdoors. For shopping, locals head to the nearby Centerpoint Mall, located off Saviers Road, the area's main thoroughfare. This indoor shopping plaza is anchored on one side by Walmart, where patrons can grab everyday essentials, and on the other side by Superior Grocers, where they can pick up their groceries for the week. Even closer to Bryce Canyon South is El Super, a local supermarket chain. When hunger strikes, residents flock to Taqueria La Fogata, off Saviers Road. This cozy spot serves up authentic Mexican staples like tacos and burritos in various meat choices. Comfort breakfast food with a side of harbor views is on offer at The Best Breakfast, a nearby no-frills eatery that earns its name. When looking for things to do, residents are sure to find them just outside the neighborhood. The South Oxnard Branch Library is on the south side of East Bard Road and offers programming for younger kids, like homework help and story times, and programing for teens like college prep and a teen council they can join to gain leadership skills. Port Hueneme Beach, about 2 miles south, is where locals can fish off Hueneme Pier, do yoga on the sand or ride their bikes along the paved walkway just steps from the ocean. The Port of Hueneme and the naval base are both close at hand. Port Hueneme is the largest deep-water port between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Carriers bring cars, pineapples and bananas to the L.A. Basin and ship local strawberries worldwide. With more than 3 billion bananas being imported annually, Port Hueneme hosts a popular Banana Festival each September. Festivalgoers can experience port tours, live bands and a kid zone. There’s also the Hueneme Beach Festival in August, which offers live music, food and exhibitions. When it comes time to commute, residents are about 3 miles from Rice Avenue, which links to US-101. From there, locals can be on their way to Ventura to the west, Camarillo to the east or anywhere else in Southern California they want to go.