Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Rosa, CA
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 14 of 22 categories
Santa Rosa
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,604
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Thousand Oaks
California
14
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.
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Homes cost $239k less ($661,700 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $459/mo less ($2,024 vs $2,483)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $32,795/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.8%)
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
70% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
Households earn $32,795 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°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 3% higher than Santa Rosa
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 110.1 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Santa Rosa
Median Home Value
$239k less
$661,700 vs $900,600
Santa Rosa
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 81.6°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$32,795
$125,399 vs $92,604/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
70% lower
102.2 vs 342.6 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Rosa, CA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $661,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,024⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,604 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rincon Valley Union Elementary | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.7°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 31.5" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 178,221 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 40.4 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 18.3% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Rosa's cost of living index is 110.1 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Santa Rosa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 14 of 22 categories. Santa Rosa wins 8 and Thousand Oaks wins 14. 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 Santa Rosa to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($661,700 vs $900,600 median home), income ($92,604 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Rosa, CA and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 363 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.