Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 13 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$109,268
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Thousand Oaks
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$125,399 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27
Population
126,532 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Homes cost $507k less ($393,700 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $575/mo less ($1,908 vs $2,483)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $16,131/yr
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
Households earn $16,131 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 84°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 Germantown
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Germantown
Median Home Value
$507k less
$393,700 vs $900,600
Germantown
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 84.3°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$16,131
$125,399 vs $109,268/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 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 | — | 36 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 27 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 49 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 126,532 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Germantown is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 13 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 7 and Thousand Oaks wins 13. 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 Germantown to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $900,600 median home), income ($109,268 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 2,311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.