Opportunities in Oxnard are endless. Between business, education and recreation, residents enjoy both work and play in the province.
With a comfortable year-round climate and 20-mile long Pacific coastline, locals live the good life in the California community that is located in Ventura County.
If you have been thinking about making a brave move across country or relocating from one California county to the next, Oxnard maybe just where you want to wind up. Read through this guide to see what the region really has to offer.
Oxnard Climate
Warm dry summers and mild wet winters make up the two seasons. With an average high of 74-degrees in August and an average low of 45-degrees in December, locals live quite comfortably in the climate. Both spring and fall average around 50 degrees, giving residents a nice rest in between hotter and cooler temperatures. With only 15-inches of precipitation a year, locals do not have to keep their umbrellas too close. And of course, no snow means no need for a shovel.
Oxnard Neighborhoods
Seven distinct sectors cover the community, creating family-friendly neighborhoods throughout all of Oxnard. Del Norte, downtown, northeast, northwest, south central, southeast and southwest districts house almost 200,000 residents who are spread out among 26 square-miles. With safety as its top priority, the city has Oxnard Neighborhood Councils hold constant forums to foster communication throughout the region so residents stay aware of what is happening both next door and across town.
Downtown Oxnard is the community core made up of international restaurants, annual events, outdoor festivals and holiday parades that are always happening along the city sidewalks. The Oxnard Chamber of Commerce is very active in the city center, assuring all retail, restaurants and regional events are a success 365 days a year. While some residents reside downtown, looking out their windows to see business and shopping sites, other locals live along the shoreline, seeing large beaches and soft sand in their backyards.
Registering Your Car
Considered a state resident if you register to vote, pay school tuition or file property taxes, the California Division of Motor Vehicles mandates you have a license within 10 days. After completing an application, new residents must provide proof-of-name, address and birth date, as well as a social security card to get a California license.
A vision test and $39 fee are also required to retain a permit. Registering your car and receiving California plates can be done by filling out the necessary paperwork and providing proof of insurance. It cost $46 dollars to register your car in the Golden State.
Oxnard Schools
The Oxnard, Oceanview, Rio and Hueneme School Districts serve more than 33,000 students in 46 separate elementary schools. The Oxnard Union High School District, established in 1901, has more than a hundred-year history and 10 schools that educate nearly 20,000 underclassman.
After graduation, many area students attend Oxnard College. The two-year accredited academy, which has one of the nation's top 5 dental hygienist programs, also offers an array of degrees and certificates. Though not directly located in Oxnard, the four-year school of California State University Channel Islands is less than 15-minutes away. As one of 23 campuses across the state that teaches 437,000 students, the local college touts top-of-the-line schooling for area students. And if that wasn't enough area education, five other colleges have satellite sites in Oxnard, including the University of Phoenix and the University of California Santa Barbara.
Oxnard Employment
Between international trade, tourism, agriculture and defense, Oxnard has many job opportunities to pursue and a plethora of careers to choose from. However, the 11.6% unemployment rate, more than 3 points over the national average of 7.9%, can make finding the perfect job a bit challenging to say the least. But if you want to live in Oxnard's borders, you can find a job if you search hard enough.
As the top employer in the area, St. John's Regional Medical Center, 1,994 staff members, will be the first place you will want to apply, especially if you're interested in the healthcare industry. If education is your thing, then you will definitely want to submit an application at the Oxnard Union High School District, which employs 1,500 workers.
And if education is not your thing, then browse the Ventura County Star classifieds to see what other careers are available in the city. If you do not have any luck with the newspaper, seek out any one of the several staffing agencies in Oxnard for assistance finding a job.
Living Costs in the City
With a $61,813 median family income and a $289,000 median home price according to CNN Money, Oxnard could be a costly place to live coupled with the unemployment rate. Though the cost-of-living average in Oxnard is 1.1% less than the state standard, it is 29.8% higher than the national average. However, with a secure job and a little bit of savings, settling in the city is more than possible.
Oxnard Moving Resources
Moving and storage companies are ready and willing to help you with your move to Oxnard, whether you’re moving from out of state or from another county in California. Make sure you get estimates from multiple moving services before you commit to hiring any (at least three estimates). Check back to our guides for tips on how to choose your moving service wisely with important questions to ask, differentiating between types of estimates, and mistakes to avoid. Visit the following pages at Movers.com to get quotes for the following services:
Oxnard Transportation
Vehicles travel the Ventura Freeway, US 101, to get around town, while residents who prefer to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride are transported by the Oxnard Transit Center. From Amtrak train lines to Greyhound bus routes, locals love the idea of someone else doing the driving. Ventura Intercity Service Transit Authority also provides bus transportation in the county, making plenty of stops in Oxnard along two major routes.
To catch a ride on the sea, Channel Islands Harbor is where you want to get dropped off. And for a ride in the air, the Oxnard Airport is where you need to depart from. Ultimately in the end, the healthiest alternative to any form of local travel is via bike or feet. If the destination is not too far from the origin, locals bike or walk where they need to go, getting exercise and going green in the same deep breath.
Culture & Contemporary Life
Between the beaches, museums, clubs, restaurants and festivals, fun is never far away in Oxnard. Locals are either catching a wave in the Pacific Ocean, touring the Carnegie Art Museum, moving and shaking on the dance floor, dining to their hearts content or having a terrific time at any one of the areas annual festivals.
Home to the California Strawberry Festival, Oxnard draws in thousands upon thousands annually for a bite of the really red fruit. Other fruits and vegetables can be found at the any of the city's weekly farmer's markets that residents frequent. Bottom-line, whether it is day or night or rain or shine, you will always find residents balancing work, play and shopping in Oxnard.
Oxnard Relocation Tips
- Ventura County is the larger vicinity the city resides in. By becoming familiar with the bigger region, you can see what opportunities lay right outside Oxnard.
- Visit Oxnard, CA and see for yourself why so many California locals call the district home. After a few fun days, you may decide you may want to stay longer and even consider settling down in the area.
- Take some time to research the region via the Internet to find out where local banks, businesses and shopping centers are located. Knowing the area well will make it easier for you to get around when you first arrive.