Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 22 categories
Elk Grove
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,864
Violent Crime Index
50
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Thousand Oaks
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$125,399 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
126,532
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Homes cost $340k less ($560,500 vs $900,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $407/mo less ($2,076 vs $2,483)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.8%)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $9,535/yr
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
46% less violent crime than Elk Grove
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 93°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 5% higher than Elk Grove
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Elk Grove
Median Home Value
$340k less
$560,500 vs $900,600
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$9,535
$125,399 vs $115,864/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
46% lower
102.2 vs 189.9 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 38.7 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 69.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Elk Grove is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 22 categories. Elk Grove wins 7 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 Elk Grove to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $900,600 median home), income ($115,864 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 323 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.