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College

College

Suburban Neighborhood in Ventura, California

Ventura County 93003
$1,016,836 Average Value
$603 Average Price per Sq Ft
21 Homes For Sale

Hiking and hilltop views around Ventura College

College aptly earns its name from Ventura College, the neighborhood's centerpiece. Despite the name, the neighborhood's setting is far from a college town. The community college campus is surrounded by rows of ranch-style homes and cottages that offer walkability to nearby schools and parks. To the north of campus, residential streets butt up against the Ventura Foothills of the Topa Topa Mountains, where residents can access miles of hiking trails, and some homes even have views of Pierpont Bay. The neighborhood's consistent housing options make it approachable for many buyers. Broker Larry Krogh with LIV Sotheby's International Realty, who's been selling in Ventura for 20 years, says, "The great thing about College is that its prices are right in the middle of the road. It's a nice area, so there are still $2 million dollar homes, but there's nothing way out of the range."

Homes around campus and in the hills

In contrast to the grid layout of neighboring Midtown, College's residential communities have winding streets and cul-de-sacs that give a suburban look. The neighborhood's south side — also called "lower College" — has a bit of commercial activity from shopping centers and strip malls, but it's primarily residential. Small ranch-style homes sit on narrow lots, ranging from $700,000 to $1 million. Sidewalks connect these south-side homes to schools like Elmhurst Elementary. The streets on the north side of campus — known as "upper College" — are purely residential, with spacious ranch-style and bi-level homes on midsize lots with grassy front lawns. These can range from $900,000 to over $2 million. Some communities, like Skyline, climb farther into the foothills. "Skyline is built on a steep hillside, so you get significantly better views than you do down the hill in upper College," says Krogh. These larger hilltop homes overlook the city, and some have clear views of Pierpont Bay. They can start around $1.5 million and reach over $2.5 million.

Ventura Unified School District

The neighborhood lives up to its academic name, as it's part of the Ventura Unified Schools District, which earns an impressive A-minus grade from Niche. Many kids have a short walk to Elmhurst Elementary and Anacapa Middle, which are both rated B-minus. Students also finish in the neighborhood at Buena High School, which is given a B-plus. Buena offers almost 20 AP courses, including some that are unique in the district, like Intro to Engineering. Of course, the neighborhood's most prominent school is Ventura College. This community college has been part of the community since 1925. Its 100-acre campus doesn't have dorms, so most students commute to class from outside the neighborhood.

Hiking at Arroyo Verde Park

Arroyo Verde Park's hiking trails are some of the most popular in Ventura, and they're within walking distance of homes in upper College. The Arroyo Verde Park Trail is the main route. This 3-mile loop takes hikers up and down the grassy Ventura Foothills. Along the way, hikers can opt for more challenging routes branching off the main trail. Aside from trails, the park offers over 120 acres of green space and a new 10,000-square-foot play area with various climbing structures, slides and interactive features. Lower College residents can walk to Camino Real Park. It has a tennis center with eight courts, baseball diamonds for little league games and a paved walking loop around the park's tree-lined perimeter. Plus, Ventura Beach is just three miles away for days of surfing and sunbathing.

Pacific View Mall and eateries on Telegraph Road

Shopping and dining can be found along Telegraph Road, which runs east to west through the heart of the neighborhood. Pacific View Mall — one of Ventura's largest shopping centers — sits on the west end of Telegraph. The main indoor mall has dozens of retail outlets like Sephora and Foot Locker, while the surrounding plaza has department and grocery stores like Target and Trader Joe's. Just east on Telegraph, folks can get breakfast treats at KD Village Donuts and sip craft beers at Rincon Brewery. Foster's Freeze is across the street. This cult-favorite fast-food joint hasn't changed much since the 1950s, as they still serve burgers and shakes from a walk-up window. Many more cafés and restaurants can be found as folks drive west of the neighborhood on Main Street through Midtown and downtown.

Work at Ventura College and downtown companies

Residents working in higher education have a short walk to work at Ventura College. Healthcare personnel can walk or drive just over a mile west to Ventura County Medical Center, the city's largest hospital. Downtown Ventura is less than 4 miles west. Patagonia — one of the world's most recognizable outerwear brands — has been headquartered downtown since 1967. Residents can also take the bus from stops on Telegraph Road and Loma Vista Road. Commuters can hop on U.S. Route 101 just south of the neighborhood to get up and down the coast. Santa Barbara is just over 30 miles north, and Los Angeles is almost 70 miles south. Folks can also commute or travel by train from the downtown Ventura Amtrak Station. The Santa Barbara Airport is the most convenient outlet for flights, 40 miles north.

The 2017 Thomas Fire

Wildfires have been a growing concern in Ventura since the 2017 Thomas Fire. It burned over 300,000 acres of Ventura County and Santa Barbara County, including the foothills above the city. Coastal neighborhoods typically aren't at as much risk of being damaged by fires, but College's position against the brush-covered hills puts it in more danger. Residents living close to and in the hills should have a prepared evacuation plan. They should also create a defensible space around their home by removing flammable, dry brush from the perimeter of their property.

Ed Coombs
Written By
Ed Coombs
Derrick Harvey
Photography Contributed By
Derrick Harvey
Bob Yukich
Video By
Bob Yukich

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

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Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime College US
Homicide 4 4
Sexual Assault 4 4
Assault with Weapon 4 4
Robbery 4 4
Burglary 5 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 5 4
Larceny 5 4
Crime Score 4 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

College Demographics and Home Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$1,049,000
Median Sale Price
$954,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$1,120,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$478,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$464,995
Median Change From 1st List Price
3%
Last 12 months Home Sales
100
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
6%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$603

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes
3,508
Number of Homes for Sale
21
Median Year Built
1960
Months of Supply
2.50
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,682
Below the national average
1,930
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,169
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,168
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
936
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
7,405

Open Houses

  • Sunday, Mar 1
    1 - 4pm

    5632 Pembroke St, Ventura, CA 93003

    $1,099,000

    • 3 Beds
    • 2 Baths
    • 1,413 Sq Ft
    • 5632 Pembroke St
    • New 3 days ago

    Beautifully upgraded single-story home in popular Campus View! Featuring 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and approximately 1,413 sq. ft. plus a 200 sq. ft. sunroom addition. Enjoy a remodeled kitchen with granite countertops, custom cabinets, stainless steel appliances, recessed lighting, wood floors, dual-paned windows, and a cozy wood-burning fireplace with Palo Verde stone. Situated on a 9,583 sq. ft.

    Agent Photo
    Fred Evans
    RE/MAX Gold Coast REALTORS
    (805) 339-3502
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  • Saturday, Feb 28
    1:30 - 4pm

    679 Adirondack Ave, Ventura, CA 93003

    $1,800,000

    • 3 Beds
    • 2 Baths
    • 2,025 Sq Ft
    • 679 Adirondack Ave
    • New 16 days ago

    Rare opportunity!!! - to own a newly completed, one-of-a-kind ocean view modern masterpiece nestled in the sought-after Ventura foothills. This stunning 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home offers 2,025 sq ft of contemporary architecture, elevated finishes and breathtaking coastal vistas. Striking modern curb appeal sets the tone as you step inside to vaulted ceilings, engineered hardwood floors, recessed

    Sean Curts The ONE Luxury Properties

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  • Sunday, Mar 1
    12 - 3pm

    281 Glen Ellen Dr, Ventura, CA 93003

    $1,495,000

    • 4 Beds
    • 3 Baths
    • 2,374 Sq Ft
    • 281 Glen Ellen Dr
    • New 22 days ago

    Custom 1950 vintage Ventura home in a tranquil setting on spacious grounds. One of a kind home is over 2300 square feet including 4 bedrooms, 3 baths. One bedroom without closet can be used as front of home office. Gated courtyard to front door enters into amazing living room with fireplace and sliding doors opening to a delightful private patio bringing outdoor light into the home. Lovely dining

    Karla Reed Wave Realty

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Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
13,622
Median Age
47
Population Density
11 ppl/acre
Population under 18
20.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
27.2%
Above the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$105,523
Above the national average
$79,601
Average Household Income
$125,537

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
94.3%
College Graduates
48.7%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
19.4%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
59.9%

Area Factors

Bikeable

Bike Score®

57 / 100

Somewhat Walkable

Walk Score®

53 / 100

Some Transit

Transit Score®

37 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Nearby Neighborhoods

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
College