Port Hueneme
Port Hueneme: 5 minPoint Mugu: 15 to 25 min
A small beach city of about 21,000 people that touches the fence. More condos than houses, and the lowest prices near the base.
Naval Base Ventura County
Ventura County Military Homes: 8 Cities Near the Base
Every city near Naval Base Ventura County, with honest drive times to both gates, the school district and what homes cost. Start with your gate, then the school, then the payment.
Drive times to both gates
| City | To Port Hueneme (Knott Gate) | To Point Mugu (Las Posas Gate) | Public schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Hueneme | 5 min | 15 to 25 min | Hueneme Elementary (K-8), Oxnard Union High |
| Oxnard | 10 to 20 min | 15 to 35 min | Oxnard, Rio, Hueneme or Ocean View (K-8), Oxnard Union High |
| Camarillo | 20 to 30 min | 15 to 25 min | Pleasant Valley (K-8), Oxnard Union High |
| Ventura | 20 to 30 min | 28 to 45 min | Ventura Unified (K-12) |
| Newbury Park | 30 to 35 min | 25 to 40 min | Conejo Valley Unified (K-12) |
| Thousand Oaks | 30 to 45 min | 30 to 50 min | Conejo Valley Unified (K-12) |
| Moorpark | 35 to 45 min | 35 to 50 min | Moorpark Unified (K-12) |
| Simi Valley | 45 to 60 min | 45 to 70 min | Simi Valley Unified (K-12) |
Drive times are my estimates outside rush hour. Test the drive at the hour you would actually make it.
The eight cities
Oxnard
Port Hueneme: 10 to 20 minPoint Mugu: 15 to 35 min
The biggest city in the county. Starter condos, harbor homes with boat docks and everything between, 10 to 20 minutes from Knott Gate.
Camarillo
Port Hueneme: 20 to 30 minPoint Mugu: 15 to 25 min
Suburban streets a few miles inland, outlet shopping and the shortest drive to Point Mugu. Catalina Heights military housing is here.
Ventura
Port Hueneme: 20 to 30 minPoint Mugu: 28 to 45 min
A real downtown, the beach in town and one school district from kindergarten through senior year.
Newbury Park
Port Hueneme: 30 to 35 minPoint Mugu: 25 to 40 min
The Conejo Valley side closest to Point Mugu, with Conejo Valley schools and trail access into the Santa Monica Mountains.
Thousand Oaks
Port Hueneme: 30 to 45 minPoint Mugu: 30 to 50 min
Conejo Valley Unified schools, open space and trails, with higher prices and a 30 to 50 minute drive.
Moorpark
Port Hueneme: 35 to 45 minPoint Mugu: 35 to 50 min
An inland city with its own K to 12 district, Moorpark College and a 35 to 50 minute drive to the base.
Simi Valley
Port Hueneme: 45 to 60 minPoint Mugu: 45 to 70 min
More house and yard for the money, with its own school district and the longest drive to either gate.
How to choose
- Start with the gate. Port Hueneme command? Look at Port Hueneme and Oxnard first. Point Mugu? Start in Camarillo.
- Then the school. Look up the district for each address you like. Some cities have four.
- Then the payment. Run your number on the BAH calculator and add HOA dues and Mello-Roos where they apply.
- Then go stand in it. Visit at the hour you would leave for work and again at dinner time.
I describe homes, costs, commutes and school boundaries. Where you live is your call, and I will never steer you toward or away from any area.
Market snapshot: November 2026
Prices climb as you move inland and uphill, and so does the drive. Here is where each city stood when I last checked. I refresh this table every month.
| City | Median sale price | Typical 3 bedroom rent | Days on market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Hueneme | $538,000 | $3,800 | |
| Oxnard | $789,000 | $3,890 | 43 |
| Camarillo | $825,000 | $3,870 | 49 |
| Ventura | $901,000 | $4,050 | 49 |
| Newbury Park | $1,040,000 | $4,000 | |
| Thousand Oaks | $1,073,000 | $4,500 | |
| Moorpark | $938,000 | $4,000 | |
| Simi Valley | $804,000 | $3,850 |
Median sale prices are Redfin medians for the three months ending August 2026. Rents are typical three bedroom asking rents from Zumper and Zillow, September to October 2026. Use these to compare towns, not to price a specific home.
Questions families ask me
Which city is closest to Naval Base Ventura County?
Port Hueneme, about five minutes from Knott Gate. For Point Mugu, Camarillo, south Oxnard and Port Hueneme are all about 15 to 25 minutes from the Las Posas Gate.
Which Ventura County city costs the least near the base?
Port Hueneme has the lowest median sale price on this list, mostly because so many homes there are condos. Among the larger cities, Oxnard runs lowest.
How do I check crime information for a city?
Use official sources. Each city page links to the local police agency, the FBI Crime Data Explorer and California DOJ OpenJustice. I do not label or rate neighborhoods.
Let me do the legwork before you land
Tell me your report date, your gate and what you want to spend. I will send homes that fit, tour them for you on live video and call you with the honest version of every street.