The California Department of Finance has released data showing that Thousand Oaks has experienced its tenth consecutive year of population decline. The city’s population has dropped to a level not seen since 2002, reversing the gains made in the early 2000s.
Housing Shortage
The decline is attributed to a shortage of housing, which has led to high prices and made it difficult for employers to attract and retain talent. The median home price in the region now requires a household income of over $350,000 to afford.
This has resulted in a decline in activity in the biotechnology sector, with a loss of nearly $20 billion and thousands of high-paying jobs. The number of children in Conejo Unified Schools has also declined by over 30 percent, with the fastest shrinking age group being people under 25.
Residents are urged to get involved and support elected officials who are willing to approve multi- and single-family housing projects to address the county’s housing crisis.
Original reporting: Thousand Oaks Acorn — read the source article.
