Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McKinney, TX
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 McKinney leads 14 of 23 categories
McKinney
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,286
Violent Crime Index
31
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
Thousand Oaks
California
9
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.
McKinney, TX
Pros
Homes cost $500k less ($400,400 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $743/mo less ($1,740 vs $2,483)
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.7%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $12,113/yr
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,113 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 94°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°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 McKinney
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
McKinney
Median Home Value
$500k less
$400,400 vs $900,600
McKinney
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.8% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
16.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$12,113
$125,399 vs $113,286/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
13% lower
102.2 vs 117.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McKinney, 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 | $400,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,740⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,286 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 36 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 49 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 49.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCKINNEY ISD | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.4°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,160 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.9% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McKinney's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
McKinney is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 14 of 23 categories. McKinney wins 14 and Thousand Oaks wins 9. 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 McKinney to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($400,400 vs $900,600 median home), income ($113,286 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McKinney, TX and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 1,276 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.