A giant smiley face carved into the hillside greets commuters driving into Simi Valley; Happy Face Hill tells everyone who sees it that they're no longer in the hectic bustle of Los Angeles, that they can relax. Simi Valley rests in the lowland between the Santa Susana Mountains to the north and the Simi Hills to the south. It's just over 40 miles northwest of LA, making it popular with commuters looking for more space. The prices are also slightly lower than in nearby cities, such as Thousand Oaks. Beyond lower prices and suburban yard space, Simi Valley offers effortless access to outdoor activities. "The trails here are top-notch. Some are easy, some are more challenging, but they all have great views," says Anthony Angelini, tourism director for the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce. According to the Trust for Public Land, more than 60% of Simi Valley residents live within a 10-minute walk to one of the city's 42 parks or trailheads. Almost every neighborhood is arranged with its own greenspace, and many trailheads branch from residential streets into the hills around the city. Cyclists, walkers and runners can even travel on the Arroyo Simi Greenway, a tree-lined paved path running through the city. With an annual average temperature of around 65 degrees and over 270 sunny days, residents can enjoy these outdoor amenities pretty much year-round.
Residential areas in Simi Valley sit between mountains, offering scenic views and open space.
Simi Valley neighborhoods feature single-family homes with suburban charm.
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Easy access to parks and canyon trails
The city's neighborhoods were designed with outdoor space in mind, putting most residents within a few minutes of their nearest community park or trailhead. These vary from small playgrounds and pocket parks to large spaces like Rancho Simi Community Park, which has athletic fields, courts, a swimming pool and a small lake. Cyclists can ride on the Arroyo Simi Greenway, a paved multiuse, tree-lined path cutting through the city's south side.
The mountainous surroundings make hiking trails easy to access. Many trailheads begin in residential communities, like the Las Llajas Canyon Trail and Chumash Park Trail, which lead north into the Santa Susana Mountains from the city's northeast corner. Routes on the city's south side, like the Canyon View Trail, lead down into the valleys of the Simi Hills.
Locals enjoy riding their bikes with their pets along the Arroyo Simi Bike Path in Simi Valley.
Wood Ranch in Simi Valley boasts scenic hiking and biking trails for outdoor enthusiasts.
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More space for less outside of Los Angeles County
The median home price is just over $800,000, compared to just over $1 million 10 miles south in Thousand Oaks. Most homes sit on the city's grid streets but have a suburban appearance with midsize grassy lawns. Single-family Mediterranean-inspired and ranch-style homes make up the majority of options, starting around $800,000. Condos in the city can cost around $600,000. In the hills around the city, Mediterranean Revivals, midcentury modern designs and new builds with mountain views can range from $1 million to $4 million — these are often on a few acres of land.
On the edge of Wood Ranch in Simi Valley, interested homebuyers can find large sprawling estates.
Residential properties are larger in Simi Valley than in nearby Los Angeles.
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Town Center shopping and community events
Simi Valley is home to a few shopping plazas and malls offering a wide variety of retail and necessities. Simi Valley Town Center is where residents do most of their shopping. This large outdoor mall offers trendy outlets, restaurants and a movie theater. Grocery and departments stores like Trader Joe's and Target can be found within a few minutes of Town Center on state Route 118. More shopping and dining, both chain and locally owned, is on East Los Angeles Avenue, which cuts east-west through the entire city.
The whole community comes together for two big events: the Simi Valley Street Fair and Oktoberfest. The Simi Valley Street Fair is held twice a year, in the fall and late spring. "Oktoberfest is awesome, but Street Fair is by far our biggest event," says Angelini. "We shut down the streets around Simi Valley Town Center to make room for all the vendors and attractions." Fairgoers enjoy endless rows of food and craft vendors lining the streets, a beer and wine garden and live music. Oktoberfest occurs a few weeks before the fall Street Fair. "Our Oktoberfest is one of the biggest in the state," says Angelini. "It's all-you-can-drink beer for $50, so people go all out." The beer- and pretzel-fueled festivities occur at Rancho Tapo Park in late September. Folks dance to polka bands, eat and drink at communal tables and often dress to nines in Bavarian garb.
The Fall Simi Valley Street Fair offers food, vendors, and entertainment for all.
There are many shopping centers around Simi Valley that host local and national retailers.
The Apricot Festival in Simi Valley is a family event that occurs at Strathearn Historical Park.
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Commute on State Route 118 or by train
Simi Valley has city buses, but it's a primarily car-dependent city. Residents might work at industrial businesses on the city's west side or healthcare facilities like Adventist Health Simi Valley. Still, many commute on the 118. It runs east to west through the city, connecting drivers to destinations in Ventura County and Los Angeles County. Thousand Oaks is about a 10-mile drive south by taking the 118 west and heading down state Route 23. Commuters can merge onto Interstate 5 for a 40-mile drive southeast to downtown LA. The drive to LA usually takes about an hour, but it's normal to hit heavy traffic near the city center. The Simi Valley Amtrak Station, on the city's east side, offers an hour train ride to LA. Los Angeles International Airport is about 50 miles southeast.
Simi Valley offers convenient public transit and easy connectivity for commuters.
Happy Face Hill welcomes residents and tourists to Simi Valley.
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A-rated Simi Valley Unified School District
The city's public schools get high marks, with the Simi Valley Unified School District receiving an overall A rating from Niche. Niche also ranks it as the No. 4 best district in Ventura County. The district has 28 schools, all within the city, so most students have a short walk or ride to school. Santa Susana High is a standout among the district's multiple other A-rated schools. Ranked the No. 5 best high school in Ventura County, Santa Susana is a highly touted magnet school offering STEM programs and many other academic programs.
Santa Susana High School ranks among top-rated schools in Simi Valley.
Simi Valley High School serves over 2,000 students in Simi Valley, Ca.
Valley View Middle School, rated B+ on Niche, serves the Simi Valley community.
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The Reagan Presidential Library and spaces for the arts
Simi Valley is also the location of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. The library’s complex sprawls over gardens and includes a hilltop with views of the ocean. "People come from all over the world to see Air Force One parked inside the museum," says Angelini. "We're used to hosting diplomats and government officials who come for events or to pay their respects at the former president and first lady's burial site."
The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, operated by the city manager's office, is the city’s hub of artistic programming. The center hosts over 350 events each year, ranging from musicals, concerts, craft fairs, art exhibits, business meetings and weddings. It has become such a community hub that in July of 2021, the city council adopted a five-year strategic plan dedicated to broadening the resources and outreach of the Cultural Arts Center.
The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center hosts over 350 events every year.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is one of the main landmarks in Simi Valley.
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High risk of fires, but not crime
There is a real risk of brush fires in the hills around Simi Valley. In the summer of 2024, the Sharp Fire burned 133 acres on the city's north side. It damaged around 60 homes and forced residents to evacuate. Residents should have an evacuation plan prepared for these potential disasters, and it's also important to mitigate the spread of fires by creating a defensible space. This involves removing flammable, overgrown vegetation from the perimeter of a property to cut off a fire's fuel supply.
On the other hand, crime is not much of a concern. According to FBI data, Simi Valley's violent crime rate is consistently well below the state and national rates. In 2023, Simi Valley had a rate of 43 offenses per 100,000 people, compared to the California rate of 103 per 100,000 people.
Written By
Ed Coombs
Photography Contributed By
Derrick Harvey
Video By
Jacob McAllister
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