Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $683k less ($217,700 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $1473/mo less ($1,010 vs $2,483)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $75,244/yr
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 4.8%)
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $75,244 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.8%)
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 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $900,600
Higher rents — median is $2,483/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Baton Rouge
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$683k less
$217,700 vs $900,600
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$75,244
$125,399 vs $50,155/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
90% lower
102.2 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge 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 Baton Rouge to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $900,600 median home), income ($50,155 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 1,635 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.