Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 16 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Thousand Oaks
California
16
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.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $659k less ($241,600 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $1021/mo less ($1,462 vs $2,483)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $39,456/yr
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.8%)
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
62% less violent crime than Aurora
Households earn $39,456 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Aurora
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Home Value
$659k less
$241,600 vs $900,600
Aurora
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 84.0°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$39,456
$125,399 vs $85,943/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
62% lower
102.2 vs 266.0 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 16 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 7 and Thousand Oaks wins 16. 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 Aurora to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $900,600 median home), income ($85,943 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 1,735 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.