Amgen's Thousand Oaks campus is one of the largest employers in the Conejo Valley, and employees relocating in for new roles or promotions face a specific housing decision shaped by commute time, school priorities, and budget. I'm Brian Cooper, REALTOR at eXp Realty (DRE# 01434286), and this page is a relocation guide for employees moving to the Amgen campus in 2026.
Where Amgen Employees Actually Live
The Amgen Thousand Oaks campus sits at the eastern edge of Thousand Oaks near the 23 and 101 interchange. Most employees live in one of six communities based on family situation, commute tolerance, school priorities, and budget.
Newbury Park is the closest community most employees consider. Thousand Oaks proper covers the largest range of sub-markets and price bands. Westlake Village offers LA-direction commute access. Oak Park and Agoura Hills serve employees prioritizing Las Virgenes USD schools. Simi Valley and Moorpark offer affordability with longer but manageable commutes.
There's no single 'Amgen community' - the right pick depends on priorities.
Newbury Park: Closest, Conejo Valley Schools
Newbury Park is part of Thousand Oaks and sits about 10-15 minutes from the Amgen campus. The community offers entry-level single-family at $900K-$1.05M and mid-range at $1.1M-$1.5M. School district is Conejo Valley USD.
Newbury Park fits Amgen employees who want the shortest commute, Conejo Valley schools, and entry single-family access. The trade-off is older inventory in some tracts and limited new construction.
Thousand Oaks Proper: Closest with Most Variety
Thousand Oaks itself offers the widest range of options. Central TO entry around $1.0M-$1.2M; Lynn Ranch and other mid-tier sub-markets $1.2M-$2M; Wildwood Estates and other luxury tracts $2M+.
Thousand Oaks fits Amgen employees who want the shortest commute (5-15 minutes), Conejo Valley USD, and broad sub-market choice. The trade-off is mostly built-out inventory.
Westlake Village: LA-Direction Access
Westlake Village (LA county side) sits about 15-20 minutes from Amgen. The city straddles two counties with implications for tax and school assignment. Prices typically $1.4M-$3M for mid-range; North Ranch and lake-front luxury push higher.
Westlake fits Amgen employees with families splitting commute to LA, those preferring Las Virgenes USD, or those wanting lake-front lifestyle.
Oak Park and Agoura Hills: Las Virgenes Schools
Oak Park (~$1.0M median) and Agoura Hills (~$1.3M median) sit about 15-25 minutes from the Amgen campus. Both fall in Las Virgenes USD or Oak Park USD school boundaries (verify by address).
These communities fit Amgen employees prioritizing Las Virgenes-area schools, larger lot sizes than central TO, and lower entry prices than Westlake or Calabasas.
| Community | Commute to Amgen | Median Price | School District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newbury Park | 10-15 min | ~$1.1M | Conejo Valley USD |
| Thousand Oaks | 5-15 min | ~$1.4M | Conejo Valley USD |
| Westlake Village | 15-20 min | ~$1.6M | CVUSD or LVUSD (by address) |
| Oak Park | 15-20 min | ~$1.0M | Oak Park USD |
| Agoura Hills | 20-25 min | ~$1.3M | Las Virgenes USD |
| Simi Valley | 25-35 min | ~$830K | Simi Valley USD |
| Moorpark | 20-30 min | ~$950K | Moorpark USD |
Simi Valley and Moorpark: Affordability Trade-Off
Simi Valley (~$830K median) and Moorpark (~$950K) sit further from Amgen but offer meaningful affordability. Simi commute via the 23 freeway runs 25-35 minutes depending on traffic. Moorpark via the 23 is similar.
These communities fit Amgen employees with tighter budgets or those preferring Simi Valley USD or Moorpark USD schools. Trade-off is the daily commute distance.
Relocation Timeline Considerations
Typical Amgen relocation timelines run 30-90 days from offer acceptance to start date. Employees with relocation packages often receive closing-cost coverage, temporary housing for the first 30-60 days, and a house-hunting trip allowance.
Plan the housing search to fit the timeline. If you have 60 days, focus on two communities maximum. If you have 90 days, you can explore three. Beyond three communities, the search becomes unfocused and decisions slip.
House-Hunting Trip Strategy
If your relocation package includes a house-hunting trip, structure it efficiently. Two days is tight but workable; three days is comfortable. Schedule community drive-throughs in the morning, scheduled showings in the afternoon, and at least one peak-hour commute test.
Bring questions in writing: school priorities, commute tolerance, budget, must-haves, deal-breakers. The structured trip surfaces a clear short list. The unstructured trip surfaces confusion.
I send relocating clients a one-page trip prep document and run focused tours during the visit.
Buy Now vs Rent First
If you've never lived in the Conejo Valley, renting for 6-12 months can be a useful learning period. The local sub-market dynamics, school nuances, and commute realities are easier to learn from inside the area than from out-of-state research.
Trade-off is the cost of moving twice plus rental market rates. For employees with 3+ year horizons, buying typically wins on the math. For employees with shorter horizons or significant uncertainty, renting first is reasonable.
I'll run the math in writing for either path.
How I Help Amgen Relocators
I work with Amgen relocators through pre-arrival research, house-hunting trip itineraries, written sub-market comparison, and coordinated closing timing around the start date. Send me your role start date, family situation, and priorities and I'll send a brief within 3-5 business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do most Amgen Thousand Oaks employees live?
Most common are Newbury Park (closest, CVUSD), Thousand Oaks proper (closest, most varied), Westlake Village (LA-direction access), Oak Park and Agoura Hills (LVUSD schools), and Simi Valley or Moorpark (affordability with longer commutes).
What is the closest community to Amgen?
Thousand Oaks proper and Newbury Park are the closest. Most commutes are 5-15 minutes depending on sub-market.
Which school district covers Thousand Oaks?
Conejo Valley Unified School District covers most of Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park. Parts of Westlake fall in either CVUSD or Las Virgenes USD depending on address. Verify by parcel.
Should I buy or rent when relocating to Amgen?
Depends on horizon and confidence. 3+ year horizons with confidence often favor buying. Shorter horizons or significant uncertainty often favor renting first. California transaction costs make short holds expensive.
How long is a typical Amgen relocation timeline?
30-90 days from offer acceptance to start date. Many employees use 30-60 days of temporary housing to give themselves time to learn the area before committing.
What should I do on a house-hunting trip?
Structure 2-3 days with morning drive-throughs, afternoon scheduled showings, and at least one peak-hour commute test. Bring written priorities. The structured trip surfaces a clear short list; the unstructured trip surfaces confusion.
Does Brian Cooper work with Amgen relocators specifically?
Yes. I help with pre-arrival research, house-hunting trip itineraries, written sub-market comparison, and coordinated closing timing around start dates.
