Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 13 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,179
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Thousand Oaks
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$125,399 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
126,532
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Homes cost $245k less ($655,700 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $500/mo less ($1,983 vs $2,483)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $12,220/yr
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Alexandria
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $12,220 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $900,600
Higher rents — median is $2,483/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Alexandria
Median Home Value
$245k less
$655,700 vs $900,600
Alexandria
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.8% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$12,220
$125,399 vs $113,179/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
53% lower
102.2 vs 219.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 49.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Alexandria is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 13 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 10 and Thousand Oaks wins 13. 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 Alexandria to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $900,600 median home), income ($113,179 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 2,323 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.