What it's like to live in Port Hueneme
Port Hueneme is a small city in California with household incomes running above the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Port Hueneme deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Short commutes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- Shrinking population
- High student-teacher ratio
How Port Hueneme compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Port Hueneme
Based on Port Hueneme's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,456
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $89,120 a year
- 54% of Port Hueneme renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$117,400
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $58,700
- Homes cost 6.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 58% above US
$2,228/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,228 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $587,000. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $587,000 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.8% county unemployment
Unemployment in Ventura County is 4.8%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Ventura County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 35% above US
444 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1790/100k · Port Hueneme Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 13% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.6 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 72°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 47°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 30% below US
25% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 25%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (25 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Port Hueneme's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,228/mo) equals 29% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Port Hueneme
All California guides →Moving to Oxnard →
3 mi away · pop. 200,928
Rent $2,032/mo · Income $96,212
Compare with Port Hueneme →Moving to San Buenaventura (Ventura) →
8 mi away · pop. 109,857
Rent $2,198/mo · Income $103,069
Compare with Port Hueneme →Moving to Camarillo →
11 mi away · pop. 70,186
Rent $2,734/mo · Income $113,428
Compare with Port Hueneme →Moving to Santa Paula →
15 mi away · pop. 31,376
Rent $1,736/mo · Income $79,294
Compare with Port Hueneme →Not sure Port Hueneme is the one?
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