Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 12 of 22 categories
Clearwater
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984
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.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $613k less ($287,900 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $1094/mo less ($1,389 vs $2,483)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $66,041/yr
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $66,041 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Clearwater
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 90°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 Clearwater
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$613k less
$287,900 vs $900,600
Clearwater
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$66,041
$125,399 vs $59,358/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
74% lower
102.2 vs 395.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, 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 | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 68.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 126,532 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 44.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 19.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 12 of 22 categories. Clearwater wins 10 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 Clearwater to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $900,600 median home), income ($59,358 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 2,167 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.