Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oxnard, CA
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 21 categories
Oxnard
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
202,279 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Homes cost $313k less ($587,200 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $576/mo less ($1,907 vs $2,483)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 78°F
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $34,990/yr
Violent crime (596.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.8%)
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
83% less violent crime than Oxnard
Households earn $34,990 more per year on average
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.8%)
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
Oxnard
Median Home Value
$313k less
$587,200 vs $900,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 113.5 on the COL index
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$34,990
$125,399 vs $90,409/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
83% lower
102.2 vs 596.4 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Thousand Oaks
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 78.0°F vs 72.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oxnard, CA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $587,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,907⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,409 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oxnard | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.9°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 72.9°F | 78.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.9" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,279 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.6% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oxnard's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 21 categories. Oxnard wins 6 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 Oxnard to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($587,200 vs $900,600 median home), income ($90,409 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oxnard, CA and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 19 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.