Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 22 categories
Hemet
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hemet, CA
Pros
Homes cost $623k less ($277,200 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $1126/mo less ($1,357 vs $2,483)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $75,498/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 4.8%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $75,498 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Hemet
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
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 6% higher than Hemet
Key Differences at a Glance
Hemet
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Hemet
Median Home Value
$623k less
$277,200 vs $900,600
Hemet
Summer Heat
17.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$75,498
$125,399 vs $49,901/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
76% lower
102.2 vs 424.8 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 126,532 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 19.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Hemet is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 22 categories. Hemet 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 Hemet to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $900,600 median home), income ($49,901 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 112 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.