Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Thousand Oaks
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$125,399 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
126,532 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $739k less ($161,800 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $1423/mo less ($1,060 vs $2,483)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $66,145/yr
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $66,145 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Abilene
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $900,600
Higher rents — median is $2,483/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Abilene
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$739k less
$161,800 vs $900,600
Abilene
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.8% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$66,145
$125,399 vs $59,254/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
76% lower
102.2 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 126,532 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 8 and Thousand Oaks wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $900,600 median home), income ($59,254 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 1,110 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.