Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 16 of 23 categories
Richmond
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $592k less ($308,300 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $1256/mo less ($1,227 vs $2,483)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $65,793/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.8%)
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $65,793 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Richmond
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $900,600
Higher rents — median is $2,483/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Richmond
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Median Home Value
$592k less
$308,300 vs $900,600
Richmond
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.5°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$65,793
$125,399 vs $59,606/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
70% lower
102.2 vs 336.9 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 16 of 23 categories. Richmond 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 Richmond to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($308,300 vs $900,600 median home), income ($59,606 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 2,311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.