Thousand Oaks is where biotech and the suburbs meet - anchored by Amgen, with strong schools and homes that go further than Bay Area equity.
The employer anchor
Amgen is headquartered in Thousand Oaks and is the largest private employer in Ventura County (roughly 5,000+ local employees), investing in a major new R&D / science-and-innovation center at its global HQ - part of a vision for a Conejo "Biotech Valley." That makes Thousand Oaks a natural landing spot for relocating biotech and tech professionals. (Note: "Baxter Bioscience," sometimes cited locally, was spun off in 2015 and absorbed into Takeda - confirm any current employer before planning around it.)
Schools, space, and Prop 19
Thousand Oaks offers strong Conejo Valley USD schools and more space than the Bay Area. California's Proposition 19 can let eligible homeowners - those who are 55 or older, severely and permanently disabled, or victims of a wildfire or natural disaster - transfer the taxable (base-year) value of their primary home to a replacement primary home anywhere in California (the 55+/disabled categories may use it up to three times). Confirm eligibility with the California Board of Equalization and a tax professional.
Taxes on your sale
Federal law lets you exclude up to $250,000 of gain (single) or $500,000 (married filing jointly) on the sale of a main home if you meet the ownership and use tests (IRS Publication 523). Gains above the exclusion are taxable, so a long-held, highly-appreciated California home can still carry a sizable taxable gain - consult a CPA.
The market
The canonical Thousand Oaks median home price is $1,215,000 (data.json). I help relocating professionals compare Thousand Oaks micro-tracts and commute options. See also: Thousand Oaks real estate.
