Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 13 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Thousand Oaks
California
13
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.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $572k less ($328,700 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $1216/mo less ($1,267 vs $2,483)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $49,067/yr
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.8%)
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
91% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Households earn $49,067 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 22°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 83°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 9% higher than Minneapolis
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$572k less
$328,700 vs $900,600
Minneapolis
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.1°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$49,067
$125,399 vs $76,332/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
91% lower
102.2 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 49.6% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 13 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 10 and Thousand Oaks wins 13. 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 Minneapolis to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $900,600 median home), income ($76,332 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 1,544 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.