Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 22 categories
Miami Gardens
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,071
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High
Population
111,618
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.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Homes cost $601k less ($299,700 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $900/mo less ($1,583 vs $2,483)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 68°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $69,328/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 4.8%)
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $69,328 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Miami Gardens
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 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 7 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
Miami Gardens
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Miami Gardens
Median Home Value
$601k less
$299,700 vs $900,600
Miami Gardens
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$69,328
$125,399 vs $56,071/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
75% lower
102.2 vs 414.6 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 68.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 | 126,532 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.2 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Miami Gardens is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 22 categories. Miami Gardens 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 Miami Gardens to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $900,600 median home), income ($56,071 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 2,364 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.