Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 16 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Homes cost $407k less ($494,100 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $818/mo less ($1,665 vs $2,483)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $42,613/yr
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
87% less violent crime than Lakewood
Households earn $42,613 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 86°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 8% higher than Lakewood
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Home Value
$407k less
$494,100 vs $900,600
Lakewood
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$42,613
$125,399 vs $82,786/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
87% lower
102.2 vs 787.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 16 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 7 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 Lakewood to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $900,600 median home), income ($82,786 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 848 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.