Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 13 of 22 categories
Irving
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,686
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Thousand Oaks
California
13
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.
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $641k less ($259,500 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $1060/mo less ($1,423 vs $2,483)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.1%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Smaller class sizes — 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $48,713/yr
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,713 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Irving
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 96°F
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°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 10% higher than Irving
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Median Home Value
$641k less
$259,500 vs $900,600
Irving
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.8% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
17.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$48,713
$125,399 vs $76,686/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
63% lower
102.2 vs 275.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Irving is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 13 of 22 categories. Irving wins 9 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 Irving to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $900,600 median home), income ($76,686 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 1,263 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.