05/11/2026
Thereβs been a lot of talk lately that Ventura County has βlost 10% of its population.β
Thatβs not accurate.
What is true is that Ventura County stopped growing around 2016 and has experienced a slow population decline since then.
According to the Ventura County Civic Alliance and Ventura County Community Foundation, Ventura County peaked in 2016 at about 849,000 residents and declined by roughly 20,000β25,000 people over the last several years β closer to a 3% decline, not 10%.
Some cities have seen larger declines than others:
β’ Thousand Oaks: about -5%
β’ Oxnard: about -4%
β’ Port Hueneme: nearly -10%
β’ Ventura: about -1.6%
At the same time:
β’ Housing prices continued rising
β’ Household sizes got smaller
β’ School enrollment declined
β’ More younger residents moved to lower-cost areas
β’ The county population aged significantly
This creates an interesting dynamic in real estate and the local economy. Even with a modest population decline, demand for housing remains strong because fewer people are living in larger homes, and younger buyers are struggling with affordability.
As someone born and raised in Ventura County, itβs interesting watching this shift happen in real time. Ventura County still remains one of the most desirable places to live in California β but affordability, wages, and housing supply are clearly shaping where the next generation decides to plant roots.
Sources:
Ventura County Civic Alliance / Ventura County Community Foundation
California Lutheran University Center for Economic Research & Forecasting
California Department of Finance
https://vccf.org/ventura-countys-population-is-aging-and-shrinking-according-to-latest-state-of-the-region-report/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
