Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pueblo, CO
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 23 categories
Pueblo
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,794
Violent Crime Index
375⚠ High
Population
111,430
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pueblo, CO
Pros
Homes cost $703k less ($197,700 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $1543/mo less ($940 vs $2,483)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $72,605/yr
Violent crime (1424.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4942.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.8%)
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $72,605 more per year on average
93% less violent crime than Pueblo
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 1.8 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $900,600
Higher rents — median is $2,483/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Pueblo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pueblo
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Pueblo
Median Home Value
$703k less
$197,700 vs $900,600
Pueblo
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.0°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$72,605
$125,399 vs $52,794/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
93% lower
102.2 vs 1424.1 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pueblo, CO | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,700 ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $940 ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,794 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 319⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 375⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 235⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.8% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.0°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,430 | 126,532 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.0% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 18.3% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pueblo's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Pueblo is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 23 categories. Pueblo wins 8 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 Pueblo to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,700 vs $900,600 median home), income ($52,794 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pueblo, CO and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 842 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.