Located in greater Los Angeles County in the beautiful state of California, Calabasas is a diverse city full of history, a kind community of people, and burgeoning businesses. Commonly known as the “hidden hills,” the town sits in the southwest portion of the San Fernando Valley and in the northwest portion of the Santa Monica Mountains.
The city is relatively small, home to a population of just over 23,000 people, according to the 2010 census. Still, Calabasas offers a wide range of opportunities for newcomers. To learn more about living in Calabasas, read our guide to the city below.
While small in population, Calabasas is one of the most affluent cities in the area and is a clear choice for one of the best places to live in Southern California. In fact, in February of 2020, the city overtook Beverly Hills as one of the wealthiest cities in the country, with an average household income of $194,010.
The city is primarily made up of homeowners with a smaller population of renters. The average apartment rent in the city is around $2,400, which is a 4 percent decrease compared to last year. The typical home value is estimated at over $1.25 million (comprising homes in the middle price tier). The value of homes in Calabasas has increased by about 6.4 percent in the last year, and forecasts suggest continued growth of about 8.4 percent in the coming year.
Navigating the housing market in Calabasas can come with plenty of complexities, which is why we recommend consulting with a Calabasas REALTOR® of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties to help you find and close on your dream home.
Calabasas is served by the Las Virgenes Unified School District, which also serves many of the neighboring cities and smaller unincorporated areas. Calabasas is home to four public elementary schools that are part of that school district:
Viewpoint School, a private school that enrolls students from kindergarten to 12th grade, is also located within Calabasas.
Arthur E. Wright Middle School serves the western half of the city. It was formerly the only middle school in the city until 2004 when the district opened Alice C. Stelle Middle School, which now serves the eastern half of the city.
Calabasas High School is the one public high school in the city. Established in 1975, Calabasas High School continues to achieve awards for academic excellence, performing arts awards, and top athletics programs. The school offers free lunch and reduced-cost lunch programs, and the 2018-2019 school year saw an enrollment of a little over 2,000 students.
While it is close enough to Los Angeles proper to enjoy many of the larger county’s sights, shops, and beaches, Calabasas has plenty of its own local attractions to experience and a growing restaurant scene that caters to residents and visitors alike.
Prior to opening to the public, Malibu Creek State Park was known as Fox Ranch and was a popular site for filming TV shows and movies for 20th Century Fox, including M*A*S*H and Planet of the Apes. The landholdings were later mostly donated to Bob Hope.
Connections to Hollywood aside, Malibu Creek State Park now comprises about 8,000 acres, including the 14-mile long Malibu Creek and a waterfall. The state park is a true hidden gem for hikers, offering 15 miles of hiking trails along the stream that take you through oak and sycamore forests and chaparral hills. The trails treat visitors to some incredible views of Malibu Canyon and Las Virgenes Valley, along with scenic pools and volcanic gorges.
Adjacent to Malibu Creek State Park, King Gillette Ranch covers 588 acres in the Malibu Creek Watershed. With structures designed by the razor magnate King C. Gillette and erected by Wallace Neff in the 1920s, the ranch offers some amazing views of the classic Southern California landscape. A short hike leads to Inspiration Point, a knoll that provides 360-degree views of the surrounding area, including the rock formations of the neighboring state park.
The park’s wide meadows and low ridgelines serve as a diverse wildlife corridor at the direct center of the Santa Monica Mountains range. The area is a haven for large mammals and unique birds that make the plant communities their home. The vast flora encompasses a wide range of ecosystems, including grassland, oak savannah, chaparral, coastal sage scrub, riparian woodland, and southern willow riparian.
The structures include Gillette’s own mansion, featuring a Spanish Colonial Revival style, a grand entry, a formal courtyard and terrace, and a large constructed pond. Along with hikes and tours, the King Gillette Ranch hosts plenty of public and private events.
The Leonis Adobe Museum remains one of the oldest surviving buildings in the entire San Fernando Valley. While the original parts of the adobe date back to 1844, the exact uses of the building prior to its acquisition by Miguel Leonis in the 1860s remain a mystery. Most people assume that the abandoned adobe brick served as a stagecoach stop. Leonis built a large, two-story building over the original adobe. While the dwelling has been restored over the years, the California Monterey Style, diverse architectural elements, and wrap-around veranda remain largely intact.
The property is also home to the Plummer House, which originally stood in West Hollywood’s Plummer Park. After transport and restoration, the Plummer House now serves as a visitor center and gift shop for the Leonis Adobe.
With such a rich history, the Leonis Adobe Museum offers a unique glimpse into life in California in the 1880s. Along with the actual interior of the Leonis Adobe itself, museum exhibits include adobe brick making, horno ovens, and a look at doing laundry in the old west. The Leonis Adobe is also believed to be haunted, but if hunting ghosts is not your cup of tea, the property features an authentic ranch that is complete with goats, sheep, poultry, Percheron horses, and Texas longhorn cattle.
A near-infamous shopping spot, the Commons at Calabasas is an open-air mall featuring Mediterranean architecture, dynamic fountains, koi ponds, and lavish landscaping. The shopping selection includes a wide range of boutique stores, global brands, and other trendy shops. The mall is so centralized that it has become something of a de facto town square, making it a popular venue for locals and a good place to spot a celebrity or two.
The Commons also features a variety of spots for sustenance, from cozy cafes to fine dining to comfort food staples. Sugarfish by Sushi Nozawa is one of the newest and finest additions, serving up traditional sushi using only the freshest, high-quality ingredients in the area. The neighborhood spot is Marmalade Café, serving an eclectic, California-inspired menu.
The Commons hold regular and seasonal events for family-friendly fun and entertainment all year round.
Thanks to its proximity to Los Angeles, Calabasas’ food scene is actually on the rise as more restaurants are spreading out of the central LA area into neighboring communities. Combined with the general affluence of the city, Calabasas offers a diverse array of eateries that can fit all walks of life.
Situated in a small strip mall, Shibuya is one of the best sushi spots in the West Valley and likely the best sushi spot in the city. The mix of fresh fish, numerous rolls, and classic Japanese fare make for a popular spot that frequently means long waitlists.
The Saddle Peak Lodge is an actual hunting lodge that has, at various points in history, served as an actual cabin for pioneers and a featured set in numerous Hollywood films. Today, the lodge offers a fine dining experience with three separate floors, themed rooms, and an expansive outdoor patio area. The food offers a mix of rustic American classics that use fresh, local ingredients.
If you are looking for a spot to get banana bread French toast, craft drinks, and a tune-up to your bike all at once, Pedalers Fork is the spot for you. As a local scratch restaurant, the Fork offers a menu inspired by ingredients from the Saturday market just outside its doors. As a coffee shop, Pedalers Fork features micro-batch beans roasted in house, while the genuine bar offers an extensive list of rye whiskey and locally inspired cocktails that change with every season. The bike shop is full-service, offering general tune-ups and installations, custom builds, and all the parts needed to make your bike rides even better.
An homage to the classic New York deli, Lovi’s Delicatessen offers an eclectic menu of deli favorites mixed into classic Americana and international flavors. That means a classic Reuben sandwich and blintzes next to hot biscuits and gravy and chicken wraps. Lovi’s Delicatessen also features an extensive wine menu sure to satisfy any amateur sommelier.
Calabasas, California, has quickly become one of the most sought after cities in Los Angeles county to live in. While it has become a popular destination for celebrities wanting to get away from the big city, Calabasas still offers a unique and diverse living experience for new residents from all walks of life, while still providing quick access to LA. If you are considering buying a house in California and want to call Calabasas your new home, talk with one of our Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California REALTORS®️. We can get you started on finding the home of your dreams and ensure you have the knowledge you need through each step of the process.
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March 5th, 2021 at 11:00 am