Ventura County is facing a worsening affordability crisis, with most of its workforce not earning enough to keep pace with rising living costs, according to new research by SEIU 721.
Mounting costs of housing, childcare, food, and other essentials have outpaced wages. This means many families cannot afford even a modest standard of living, according to the research.
Homeownership has become increasingly out of reach for most employees, with single-family homes nearly 40% more expensive than five years ago.
If a 20% down payment is made, a family will need an annual income of $227,861 to purchase a home at current interest rates and prices. This is roughly double the amount required in 2020.
Other essential costs, such as energy, have also risen sharply, up by about 55% over the past six years, far outpacing wage increases.
Rental Market
Median rents have increased 3.7% year-over-year, the fastest in Southern California. Median rents have also surged more than 34% over the last five years.
According to Zillow’s Observed Rent Index, the median rent in June 2025 was $2,783, marginally higher than the Los Angeles Metro and San Diego markets.
The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates that a household in Ventura County must earn $50.31 per hour in 2025 to afford a standard two-bedroom rent, without being burdened by costs.
The median hourly pay of SEIU L721 members is $32.94 or $68,406 annually. This means that only 10% of SEIU L721 members meet this threshold, the research revealed.
Ventura County’s Affordability
The County has a high cost of living compared to its median family income, the research showed. Out of the 58 counties in California, Ventura County has the eighth-highest cost of living, while the median family income ranks only 13th.
In terms of Ventura County’s relative cost of living to median income, the county ranks 21st in the state.
The Economic Policy Institute’s 2025 calculations state that an average family (consisting of two adults and two children) in the county needs $170,791 to attain a ‘modest yet adequate standard of living.’
Local Workers’ Financial Strain
SEIU L721 members face worsening challenges to securing affordable housing in the county.
- 42% own their home.
- 36% of SEIU L721 workers will risk homelessness if they miss a paycheck.
- 54% pay over 30% of their income toward their rent or mortgage.
- 9% depend on public assistance, and 14% rely on Social Security income.
Since 2019, salaries of SEIU L721 have not increased at the same pace as the rising rate of Ventura County’s cost of living, the research said.
The study concluded that Ventura County workers are increasingly unable to afford to live in the communities they serve.
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Show me a SoCal coastal City that ISN’T less affordable than it used to be. Supply and demand…
Not really. It’s called inflation with wage stagnation.
SoCal has ALWAYS been in high demand, but this level of unaffordability is due to much more.
Not everything is a simple, one sentence quip.
Why is a left leaning union providing skewed information about affordability? Not everyone gets to be quarterback, and not everyone gets to live in a coastal ‘paradise’. Those that do make significant sacrifices.
Why do you hate information and facts?
ZIPS – and players other than QBs don’t? Not all people who live in coastal towns make sacrifices, much less significant ones. How many “sacrifices” have those poor trust fund kids made to inherit their family homes?
What a pointless gripe.