Agoura Hills vs Calabasas: Prices, Schools, Commutes Compared

When choosing between Agoura Hills vs Calabasas, you're deciding between two neighboring communities a few miles apart on the 101, each with a different feel and price point. With Agoura Hills home values averaging about $1.2M and Calabasas about $1.64M (Zillow, March 2026), the price gap is real, but the differences go well beyond price.

What Are the Current Median Home Prices in Agoura Hills vs Calabasas?

As of March 2026, the median sale price in Agoura Hills was $1.4M, down 9.24% year over year, while Zillow reports the average Agoura Hills home value at $1,203,637, down 1.8% over the past year. Calabasas is a more mixed picture: average home values sit at $1,638,927, down 2.9% over the past year, while the median sale price hit $1.4M, up 25.8% year over year. Monthly medians in markets this size swing with which homes happen to close, so treat the single month figures with some caution.

Price per square foot is the more useful comparison. Agoura Hills is at $643 per square foot, up 7.2% from a year earlier, while Calabasas is at $633, down 6.8%. On that measure Agoura Hills has held value better over the past year, which matters if you are weighing the two on a dollars per foot basis.

Which Community Offers Better Commute Access to Los Angeles?

Both communities sit directly on the 101, and for most people that freeway is the commute. From Agoura Hills to downtown Los Angeles, the drive typically runs 35 to 45 minutes off peak, and rush hour can easily double it.

The distance is about 37 miles, roughly 42 minutes in typical conditions. In peak congestion, plan on anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half; in light traffic it can be 30 to 40 minutes.

Calabasas sits a few miles east of Agoura Hills, so it is slightly closer to the city, and it has backup routes through Malibu Canyon and Topanga Canyon when the 101 jams. For people working in West LA, Santa Monica or Century City, both communities are workable, with Calabasas holding a slight edge for Westside commutes.

How Do the School Districts Compare Between Agoura Hills and Calabasas?

Both communities are served by the highly rated Las Virgenes Unified School District, which serves approximately 9,600 students across Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Bell Canyon, and Westlake Village. LVUSD ranks in the top 10% of all California school districts for combined math and reading proficiency, with a graduation rate around 96%, and has built a strong reputation for music and arts programs, championship athletics, and specialized offerings like International Baccalaureate, AP Capstone, Dual Language Immersion, and a Public Waldorf School.

At the high school level, both schools post strong numbers. Agoura High School ranks in the top 30% of all schools in California for overall test scores, with 44% of students achieving math proficiency (higher than the 34% state average) and 69% achieving reading proficiency (higher than the 47% state average), according to GreatSchools. Calabasas High School also ranks in the top 30% statewide, with 41% achieving math proficiency and 63% achieving reading proficiency.

What Lifestyle and Shopping Amenities Does Each Side Offer?

Agoura Hills centers its community life around Whizin Market Square, a shopping center with roots in the city's early days: Art Whizin bought the land on Roadside Drive in 1954. Today it is a low key mix of boutiques, antique stores and restaurants, including BASTA Italian Restaurant, Blue Table Wine Bar, and the iconic Canyon Club music venue.

The Canyon Club has hosted acts ranging from Eddie Money and Dokken to Snoop Dogg, along with comedians like Louie Anderson. It anchors the Agoura Hills entertainment scene and pulls an audience from across the region.

Calabasas offers a more upscale retail experience with The Commons at Calabasas, built, owned and operated by Rick J. Caruso. Tenants include Barnes & Noble, See's Candies and Lululemon, and the center draws out of town visitors as much for the celebrity sightings as the shopping. The open air layout, Mediterranean architecture and fountains give it a polished, resort like feel that fits the Calabasas brand.

A major renovation broke ground in 2026, adding a dozen or more new shops and restaurants plus 80 apartments on the site of the former movie theater.

How Do Market Conditions Differ Between These 101 Communities?

Homes move at different speeds in the two communities. As of March 2026, Agoura Hills homes sold in 61 days on average at about 2% below list price, while Calabasas homes took 98 days on average and sold about 3% below list, according to Redfin.

Redfin gives Agoura Hills a Compete Score of 57 out of 100 and describes Calabasas as "somewhat competitive." Neither is a bidding war market right now; both lean toward balanced, with sellers in Agoura Hills seeing somewhat quicker results.

On inventory, Calabasas had 93 active listings as of March 2026, with buyer activity a touch slower than in prior months, though pricing at the top end has held up.

Zooming out, the Agoura Hills median sale price over the 12 months ending March 2026 was $1,350,000, up 6% from the prior 12 months. That longer view smooths out the single month drop noted above and points to steady, if modest, appreciation.

Which community offers better value for families?

On the numbers, Agoura Hills: lower average home values ($1.2M vs $1.64M), faster sales (61 days vs 98), and slightly higher high school test scores. Both communities are in Las Virgenes Unified, so you get the same district at a lower entry price. From Old Agoura's horse properties to Morrison Ranch estates, that holds across quite different neighborhood styles.

Frequently Asked Questions About Agoura Hills vs Calabasas