Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 14 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
Thousand Oaks
California
14
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.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Homes cost $609k less ($291,300 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $1539/mo less ($944 vs $2,483)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $68,518/yr
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $68,518 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $900,600
Higher rents — median is $2,483/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Fayetteville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$609k less
$291,300 vs $900,600
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$68,518
$125,399 vs $56,881/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
76% lower
102.2 vs 423.7 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 49.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 126,532 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 14 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 9 and Thousand Oaks wins 14. 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 Fayetteville to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $900,600 median home), income ($56,881 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 1,398 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.