Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 16 of 22 categories
Bellingham
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $1098/mo less ($1,385 vs $2,483)
Homes cost $372k less ($528,600 vs $900,600)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Smaller class sizes — 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $61,373/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $61,373 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Bellingham
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,483/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $900,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Bellingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Median Home Value
$372k less
$528,600 vs $900,600
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$61,373
$125,399 vs $64,026/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
71% lower
102.2 vs 350.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 78.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 126,532 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 16 of 22 categories. Bellingham wins 6 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 Bellingham to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $900,600 median home), income ($64,026 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 1,023 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.