Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 21 categories
East Los Angeles
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High
Population
117,222
Thousand Oaks
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Rent averages $1114/mo less ($1,369 vs $2,483)
Homes cost $318k less ($582,400 vs $900,600)
Smaller class sizes — 18.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $61,280/yr
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.8%)
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $61,280 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than East Los Angeles
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
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)
Key Differences at a Glance
East Los Angeles
Median Home Value
$318k less
$582,400 vs $900,600
East Los Angeles
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 82.0°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$61,280
$125,399 vs $64,119/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
82% lower
102.2 vs 558.4 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F | 68.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 | 126,532 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Thousand Oaks is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 21 categories. East Los Angeles wins 6 and Thousand Oaks wins 15. 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 East Los Angeles to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $900,600 median home), income ($64,119 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 42 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.