Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 17 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,179
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
89,451
Thousand Oaks
California
17
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.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $473k less ($428,000 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $850/mo less ($1,633 vs $2,483)
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $31,220/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.8%)
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Clifton
Households earn $31,220 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Clifton
Median Home Value
$473k less
$428,000 vs $900,600
Clifton
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$31,220
$125,399 vs $94,179/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
38% lower
102.2 vs 165.8 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 126,532 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Clifton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 17 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 6 and Thousand Oaks wins 17. 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 Clifton to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $900,600 median home), income ($94,179 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 2,466 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.