Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 22 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
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.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $666k less ($234,900 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $1461/mo less ($1,022 vs $2,483)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $66,549/yr
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.8%)
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $66,549 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Lafayette
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $900,600
Higher rents — median is $2,483/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Lafayette
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$666k less
$234,900 vs $900,600
Lafayette
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$66,549
$125,399 vs $58,850/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
90% lower
102.2 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 126,532 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 22 categories. Lafayette 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 Lafayette to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $900,600 median home), income ($58,850 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 1,589 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.