Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Leandro, CA
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 20 of 22 categories
San Leandro
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
Thousand Oaks
California
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Rent averages $486/mo less ($1,997 vs $2,483)
Homes cost $128k less ($772,700 vs $900,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 78°F
Cons
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $28,258/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (3922.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
81% less violent crime than San Leandro
Households earn $28,258 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,483/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $900,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Leandro
Median Home Value
$128k less
$772,700 vs $900,600
Thousand Oaks
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$28,258
$125,399 vs $97,141/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
81% lower
102.2 vs 548.7 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 78.0°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Leandro, CA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $772,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,997⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,141 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.6 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 161⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.6:1 | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.3% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Leandro Unified | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 78.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.7" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,723 | 126,532 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.5 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.6% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Leandro's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Thousand Oaks is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 20 of 22 categories. San Leandro wins 2 and Thousand Oaks wins 20. 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 San Leandro to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($772,700 vs $900,600 median home), income ($97,141 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Leandro, CA and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 304 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.