Featured image credit: Mamata.mulay
From the office towers of Downtown LA and seaside beach houses of Santa Monica to the colossal mansions of Beverly Hills and hip historic homes of the Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles is a lot of things, but “country” isn’t really one of them. That’s why it could surprise you to learn that, just 90 miles out of the city, you can find country houses offering sanctuary from LA’s seemingly relentless hustle and bustle. No need to leave Southern California! So, where are these mythical country retreats?
Leading a Horse to Agua in Agua Dulce
Finding country houses, especially classic examples, within the boundaries of Los Angeles County can be a challenge. But you might want to start your search in Agua Dulce and Leona Valley. Agua Dulce is the closer option, sitting just about 35 miles outside of LA and easily accessible via the 14 freeway. It’s a pretty easy drive from communities in Santa Clarita, Palmdale, and LA itself. There’s nothing cookie-cutter about the Agua Dulce market. Homes are almost exclusively custom-designed, borrowing heavily from ranch styles and set on sprawling plots. Always wanted to own a horse? This is the place to do it.
Cherry-Picking Country Houses in Leona Valley
North of Agua Dulce, you’ll find Leona Valley between the Angeles National Forest and Antelope Valley’s hills. It’s a longer hike outside of LA than Agua Dulce (about 60 miles). But the extra distance could be worth it, especially if you’re imagining country houses surrounded by cherry orchards, the area’s specialty. Leona Valley is a rather small community of about 1,600 residents. All that acreage (and privacy) won’t set you back as much as you’re probably imagining. Country houses in Leona Valley hover around a median price of about $650,000.
Realistically, Agua Dulce and Leona Valley require adjustments for those used to city life. These include well water, septic systems, interrupted cell service in some areas, and longer response times for certain services. But that’s country life!
High Country Living in Ojai
If your concepts for country houses are a little more “ritzy”, then turn your attentions about 85 miles northwest of LA to Ojai’s pastoral wine country. In Ojai, median home prices are well over the $1.1 million mark. That being said, you really get what you pay for. Ojai presents buyers with a walkable village replete with world-class dining, wellness centers, arts, culture, and did we mention wine?
But it’s not quite as easy to get into the Ojai community as it is in Agua Dulce or Leona Valley. Competition isn’t the only challenge to the dream of homeownership in this community. Every property in the city is saddled with a 30-year heat risk, meaning a higher risk of being faced with an “extreme heat event”. Naturally, this also drives up utility costs and insurance premiums. Still, there are plenty of interested buyers willing to take those odds. Just look at the limited inventory for proof.
Country Home Affordability in Temecula
If you’re sold on the wine but not so much on the luxury pricetag, you may want to consider country houses in Riverside County’s Temecula. An easy 90-minute drive from Downtown LA, Temecula offers rustic charm, a family-friendly atmosphere, and over 50 wineries, along with other resort-style amenities.
As of January this year, median home prices in Temecula are approximately $725,000, a more manageable price point than what you’re likely to find in Ojai. With the post-COVID carryover of remote work options, homes in Temecula became a more feasible reality for those priced out of Los Angeles proper. It’s why much of Riverside County has seen price surges since the pandemic. Therefore, if you’re considering a move to Temecula, time may be of the essence.
Cultured Country Houses in the Santa Ynez Valley
If you’re looking for the epitome of country life in Southern California (and have the budget to support it), the Santa Ynez Valley may be more your speed. The Santa Ynez Valley hosts popular tourist spots like Solvang, Los Olivos, and Ballard, offering a balanced mix of wine country sophistication and classic rural architecture. With its strong equestrian culture, Santa Ynez Valley also tends to attract bona fide ranchers along with luxury homebuyers looking for a simpler life. Median home prices in Q1 2025 hovered around $1.5 million, but values have likely risen, making it a somewhat competitive market with a high price for entry.
Know What You’re Getting Into with Country Homes
Southern California country houses can make welcoming enough retreats, but it’s also important to realize that they offer a drastically different experience (including challenges) from life in LA. For example, fire risk is a considerable threat in each of these rural areas. Therefore, due diligence requires every buyer to carefully review not just insurance costs, but also availability. Well water and septic tanks require exacting maintenance knowledge that can be easy to overlook for those unfamiliar. And then there’s the lifestyle itself, which can be night-and-day from citylife.
But if life in LA is getting you down, you don’t need to leave Southern California entirely. You just need to find the right variant of it. And for a growing number of homebuyers, country houses seem to do the trick nicely.
With a brand that says as much as JohnHart’s, Senior Copywriter Seth Styles never finds himself at a loss for words. Responsible for maintaining the voice of the company, he spends each day drafting marketing materials, blogs, bios, and agent resources that speak from the company’s collective mind and Hart… errr, heart.
Having spent over a decade in creative roles across a variety of industries, Seth brings with him vast experience in SEO practices, digital marketing, and all manner of professional writing with particular strength in blogging, content creation, and brand building. Gratitude, passion, and sincerity remain core tenets of his unwavering work ethic. The landscape of the industry changes daily, paralleling JohnHart’s efforts to {re}define real estate, but Seth works to maintain the company’s consistent message while offering both agents and clients a new echelon of service.
When not preserving the JohnHart essence in stirring copy, Seth puts his efforts into writing and illustrating an ongoing series entitled The Death of Romance. In addition, he adores spending quality time with his girlfriend and Romeo (his long-haired chihuahua mix), watching ‘70s and ‘80s horror movies, and reading (with a particular penchant for Victorian horror novels and authors Yukio Mishima and Bret Easton Ellis). He also occasionally records music as the vocalist and songwriter for his glam rock band, Peppermint Pumpkin.
.jpg){kind=link}