Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 13 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35
Population
114,923
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
Homes cost $634k less ($266,400 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $913/mo less ($1,570 vs $2,483)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 68°F
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $54,243/yr
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $54,243 more per year on average
22% less violent crime than Brandon
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 94°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)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Brandon
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Median Home Value
$634k less
$266,400 vs $900,600
Brandon
Summer Heat
15.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$54,243
$125,399 vs $71,156/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
22% lower
102.2 vs 131.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 36 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 49 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 68.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 126,532 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 13 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 9 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 Brandon to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $900,600 median home), income ($71,156 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 2,195 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.