Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 14 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490 ✓ 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.
Midland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $620k less ($280,700 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $1083/mo less ($1,400 vs $2,483)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $34,951/yr
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
72% less violent crime than Midland
Households earn $34,951 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $900,600
Higher rents — median is $2,483/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Midland
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Home Value
$620k less
$280,700 vs $900,600
Midland
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.8% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
17.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$34,951
$125,399 vs $90,448/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
72% lower
102.2 vs 364.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Midland is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 14 of 23 categories. Midland 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 Midland to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $900,600 median home), income ($90,448 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 980 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.