I grew up in Oxnard, CA, and I went to a church called St. Paul, where I was playing drums. My mom had a strawberry company. The whole town of Oxnard is basically built on produce, and more particularly, strawberries.
-Anderson Paak
Residents of Oxnard, who have also lived in San Diego, will often tell you that it is a bit like a smaller, mellower version of San Diego. It’s on the coast, has great beaches, and has an amazingly diverse scene that mixes Mexican and beach culture in a mellow town. If you’re looking to party you might head to Downtown Ventura, or Santa Barbara or even Los Angeles, but if you want to hit the beach and just grab a beer and chill then check out Oxnard.
Review of Oxnard from a local transplant:
Hi! I actually lived in San Diego for 10 years (for undergrad and then worked), moved to LA (born and raised) for 5 years for grad school, and then moved to Oxnard (thought I was going to move back to SD but met my partner who is from Oxnard)! We are both in our early 30s and love living here. I often tell people it’s like a smaller San Diego. I like the chill environment of Oxnard, low traffic and low cost of living. I feel like it’s similar to San Diego in that it has dope breweries and bars, it has a bigger night life in Ventura but everything is so close here I don’t really think about it or miss it.
For more reviews of Oxford from locals check out: The Buzz
Some visitors to Oxnard complain about the fact that while the beach stretch of Oxnard is beautiful it’s completely unaffordable, and the inward parts get cheaper but are grittier and more dangerous. Your perspective on this might be based on where you’re coming from. If you’re coming from somewhere far from California, then sure, this might bother you. On the other hand if you’re coming from LA or even San Diego, then what others call “gritty” you’ll recognize as code for Mexican and homeless, and in fact much of the city is pleasant, beautiful and the cultural integration is what makes cities like Oxnard special.
Here's an expat talking about living in Oxnard:
I grew up in Oxnard , and moved to SD 4 years ago. I always think about moving back because the big city life can be overwhelming sometimes. There’s a lot going on all the time.
I don’t think Oxnard is as ghetto as people think, it’s not a downgrade but it is a bit calmer and slower lifestyle. There’s a lot more to do now, they city is growing and changing. A few breweries are popping up , the new shopping center thats off the 101 is cool.
Oxnard is a beach town that has a mix of wealthy people living near the beach and largely working class families living in the inland neighborhoods. The beaches are beautiful and are dedicated to water sports culture. If you’re looking to drink boutique cocktails or eat fancier food then you’re going to head to Ventura. On the other hand if you’re up for a beer and amazing affordable Mexican food then you’ll stay busy when you aren’t hanging at the beach.
If you want to see what happens in Oxnard check out the local calendar of events: https://visitoxnard.com/events
Two things are often the case in Oxnard: 1) you are working or middle class, and in the ag, professional or service businesses, or 2) you are commuting elsewhere. Very little business is conducted inside the city limits so the only thing we will note is you should be ready for brutal drives. Traffic in SoCal is no joke. Think twice or even three times about living in Oxnard because it is cheaper and you’re planning to do daily commutes to LA. You will hate your life.
If you’re a long-haul, work-from-homer looking for a quieter, less expensive place to live than LA, SD, or SF but want to be near the beach then Oxnard should be on your list. When traffic is quiet (it happens every once in a while) you’re a short drive from LA or Santa Barbara and you’ve got a cool social scene in Ventura just 15 minutes away.
Oxnard has historically been almost exclusively a family-first city. More recent developments in downtown have changed that a bit with condos and apartments popping up for those who want a bit of downtown lifestyle but also immediate access to the beach. Most of the young profs who want to live in this area will go 10 miles up the road to Ventura Beach but if you want it a bit quieter and just have quick access to that scene then check out downtown.
River Ridge and Victoria Lakes are beautiful golf club-focused neighborhoods west of Ventura Road. Most families, who can afford the price tag, will want to check the beach areas first though. Mandalay and Hollywood Beach are two great options with beautiful homes, beach access and safe, tree-lined streets. If you’re looking to save some bucks but still are looking for nice, quiet neighborhoods, check out Marina West, or River Park.
Oxnard has an amazing climate that retirees appreciate. Not too cold, not too hot, although it can be foggy so if that bugs you perhaps the Pacific Ocean isn’t for you. Seriously, from Seattle to San Diego it gets foggy at different times of the year. Setting that issue aside, retirees typically pick being near the water for beach walks and hikes and waterway access. Oxnard Harbor Peninsula and Oxnard State Beach areas are popular choices and Mandalay Bay is right across from the State Beach as well so we’d recommend starting in these areas if being on or near the water is in your retirement plans.
