Choosing an Oak Park Neighborhood

Oak Park is unique in the Conejo Valley. It’s the smallest of our 5 towns and well known for its award-winning schools and close proximity to hiking trails and our best centers.

It’s made up of about 25 separate neighborhoods each with its own distinct name. But there are 6 specific neighborhoods that I call sister neighborhoods.

When I help buyers choose a neighborhood in Oak Park, it often comes down to one of these 6. While they all look similar and have a lot in common, there are nuances that separate them.

I’ll break them down to help you get a better understanding of each from the perspective of someone who’s been selling homes here for over 25 years and an Oak Park resident!

What “Sister Neighborhoods” means in Oak Park

All 6 of these neighborhoods generally share the following attributes:

Built around similar time periods – late 80s to mid 90s.
Similar layouts – high ceilings, open layouts, large primary bedrooms, small to mid-size yards.
Same schools – Two elementary schools, same middle and high school.
Shared parks & shopping centers – Indian Springs & Valley View parks
Overlapping buyer profiles – Family centric single-family homes in similar price ranges (1.1M-1.6M).

The 6 Oak Park Sister Neighborhoods

Montego
Monaco
Hillcrest Estates

Hillcrest Pointe
Monte Carlo
Bent Tree

Neighborhood Comparison Table (at-a-glance)

Neighborhood	Home Size (sqft)	HOA	Pool	Lot Size (sqft)	Lot Style	Price Range
Montego	1529-2474	Yes	Community	3-5k	Zero lot line	$1.1M-$1.4M
Hillcrest Estates	1493-2382	Yes	Private (rare)	4-5k	Zero lot line	$1.1M-$1.3M
Hillcrest Pointe	2000-2800	Yes	Private (some)	4-5k	Zero lot line	$1.1M-$1.4M
Monaco	1694-2387	No	Private (rare)	5-7k	Traditional	$1.2M-$1.5M
Bent Tree	1950-2815	No	Private (some)	5-7k	Traditional	$1.2M-$1.6M
Monte Carlo	1581-2358	Yes	Private (several)	5-7k	Traditional	$1.1M-$1.6M

What actually differentiates these neighborhoods

Lot configuration and privacy: Montego, Hillcrest Estates, and Hillcrest Pointe have zero lot lines. That’s when homes are built right up to one side of the property line, so there’s little or no side yard on that side. This allows for slightly larger interior space, but homes sit closer together. The other three neighborhoods (Monaco, Bent Tree, and Monte Carlo) have space on both sides of the property, giving you wider side yards and a bit more separation between neighbors.
HOAs: Of the six sister neighborhoods, only 2 don’t have an HOA. I would challenge anyone to drive through all 6 and figure out which ones don’t – pride of ownership is obvious in these parts with or without an HOA. For those that have one, the fee is approx. $100 a month with no common amenities with the exception of Montego that has a community pool and a higher HOA (~$120 per month).
Yard Size: You won’t find many large yards in these neighborhoods, that’s one of the tradeoffs of newer construction. The typical range is 3500-7500 square feet with outliers on both sides. The close proximity to large parks makes the tradeoff more acceptable to most, not to mention the other benefits Oak Park has to offer.

How home buyers usually narrow it down

In my experience, buyers often set their sights on a several, if not all 6 neighborhoods. Ultimately, it often comes down to 4 determining factors: Price, floor plan, yard size, and availability.

Price: Smaller lots with zero lot lines come with a lower price tag making Montego, Hillcrest Pointe and Hillcrest Estates the most affordable.

Floor plans: Between all 6 neighborhoods, there are about 20 different floor plans. I’ve seen them all and some are just better than others, regardless of the size. For example, the largest floor plan in Monte Carlo has a large bonus room upstairs, making the family room and kitchen smaller compared to similar homes, in spite of the home’s larger size. Monaco has a plan with the primary bedroom down and the others upstairs – great for downsizers, but not great for families.

Location & yard size: The homes that back busy streets tend to sit on the market longer, while the homes that back open space move quickly. And even though some neighborhoods have smaller lots on average, each neighborhood has their outliers. Situations arise where a home in Hillcrest Estates hits the market with a larger yard than what’s currently available in Bent Tree even though the averages would tell you otherwise.

Availability of homes: Those who live in Oak Park tend to stay, keeping the turnover at a minimum. Out of the 850 homes that make up these 6 neighborhoods, 20-30 sales per year is common. Meaning you may only see a handful of listings a year in some of these neighborhoods.

If this feels overwhelming, that’s normal

These neighborhoods can blur together, and the differences that actually affect day-to-day living aren’t always obvious. This is where I come in. I help buyers focus on what really matters, cut through the noise, and know when a home is a good fit, and when it’s better to wait.

If you’re exploring Oak Park and trying to understand which of these neighborhoods fits you best, this is exactly where I start the conversation with buyers.