Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 12 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
99,442
Thousand Oaks
California
12
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.
Bend, OR
Pros
Homes cost $324k less ($576,900 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $834/mo less ($1,649 vs $2,483)
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $42,728/yr
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,728 more per year on average
39% less violent crime than Bend
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 43°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 84°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 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Median Home Value
$324k less
$576,900 vs $900,600
Bend
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.8% unemployment
Bend
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 83.8°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$42,728
$125,399 vs $82,671/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
39% lower
102.2 vs 168.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 126,532 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Bend is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 12 of 23 categories. Bend wins 11 and Thousand Oaks wins 12. 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 Bend to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $900,600 median home), income ($82,671 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 694 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.