Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murrieta, CA
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 16 of 23 categories
Murrieta
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,925
Violent Crime Index
48
Population
111,899
Thousand Oaks
California
16
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.
Murrieta, CA
Pros
Homes cost $333k less ($567,700 vs $900,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $333/mo less ($2,150 vs $2,483)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $18,474/yr
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.8%)
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
44% less violent crime than Murrieta
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $18,474 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $900,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,483/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Murrieta
Key Differences at a Glance
Murrieta
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Murrieta
Median Home Value
$333k less
$567,700 vs $900,600
Murrieta
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$18,474
$125,399 vs $106,925/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
44% lower
102.2 vs 183.7 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murrieta, CA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $567,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,150⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,925 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.0 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.2% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 49 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.9% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Murrieta Valley Unified | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.9" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,899 | 126,532 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.5% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murrieta's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Murrieta is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 16 of 23 categories. Murrieta wins 7 and Thousand Oaks wins 16. 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 Murrieta to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($567,700 vs $900,600 median home), income ($106,925 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murrieta, CA and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 106 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.