Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 16 of 22 categories
Lancaster
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Thousand Oaks
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $532k less ($368,800 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $907/mo less ($1,576 vs $2,483)
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $54,032/yr
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.8%)
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $54,032 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Lancaster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 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 6 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)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$532k less
$368,800 vs $900,600
Lancaster
Summer Heat
19.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$54,032
$125,399 vs $71,367/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
88% lower
102.2 vs 834.7 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Thousand Oaks is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 16 of 22 categories. Lancaster 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 Lancaster to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $900,600 median home), income ($71,367 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 53 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.