Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 14 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Thousand Oaks
California
14
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.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $670k less ($230,400 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $1485/mo less ($998 vs $2,483)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $57,553/yr
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,553 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Lincoln
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $900,600
Higher rents — median is $2,483/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lincoln
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$670k less
$230,400 vs $900,600
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.8% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$57,553
$125,399 vs $67,846/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
71% lower
102.2 vs 347.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 14 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 9 and Thousand Oaks wins 14. 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 Lincoln to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $900,600 median home), income ($67,846 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 1,295 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.