Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Port St. Lucie, FL
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Port St. Lucie leads 12 of 22 categories
Port St. Lucie
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,040
Violent Crime Index
31
Population
210,520 ✓ Larger
Thousand Oaks
California
10
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.
Port St. Lucie, FL
Pros
Homes cost $608k less ($292,900 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $799/mo less ($1,684 vs $2,483)
Violent crime is well below the national average (116.7 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 68°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $50,359/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.8%)
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,359 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
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 89°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 12% higher than Port St. Lucie
Key Differences at a Glance
Port St. Lucie
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 101.7 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Port St. Lucie
Median Home Value
$608k less
$292,900 vs $900,600
Port St. Lucie
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$50,359
$125,399 vs $75,040/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
12% lower
102.2 vs 116.7 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Port St. Lucie, FL | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $292,900 ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,684⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,040 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 33 ✓ Safer | 36 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 49 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.2% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ST. LUCIE | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.1°F ✓ Warmer | 68.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,520 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 43.5 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.8% ✓ Higher | 69.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 21.4% ✓ More | 19.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Port St. Lucie's cost of living index is 101.7 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Port St. Lucie is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Port St. Lucie leads 12 of 22 categories. Port St. Lucie wins 12 and Thousand Oaks wins 10. 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 Port St. Lucie to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($292,900 vs $900,600 median home), income ($75,040 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Port St. Lucie, FL and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 2,321 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.