Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hesperia, CA
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 16 of 22 categories
Hesperia
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High
Population
99,878
Thousand Oaks
California
16
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.
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $563k less ($337,600 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $1047/mo less ($1,436 vs $2,483)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $57,701/yr
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 4.8%)
Longer commutes — 42.4 min average each way
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,701 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Hesperia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
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 Hesperia
Key Differences at a Glance
Hesperia
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Hesperia
Median Home Value
$563k less
$337,600 vs $900,600
Hesperia
Summer Heat
18.8°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$57,701
$125,399 vs $67,698/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
80% lower
102.2 vs 519.6 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
4.8% vs 9.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hesperia, 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 | $337,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,436⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,698 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.8%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 42.4 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.9% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.0% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hesperia Unified | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.1" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,878 | 126,532 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.5% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.3% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hesperia's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Hesperia is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 16 of 22 categories. Hesperia wins 6 and Thousand Oaks wins 16. 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 Hesperia to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,600 vs $900,600 median home), income ($67,698 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hesperia, CA and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 90 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.