Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Seattle, WA
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 13 of 23 categories
Seattle
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$116,068
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Thousand Oaks
California
13
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.
Seattle, WA
Pros
Rent averages $538/mo less ($1,945 vs $2,483)
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.2%)
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Homes cost $21k less ($879,900 vs $900,600)
Cons
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5007.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $9,331/yr
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
87% less violent crime than Seattle
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Households earn $9,331 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,483/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $900,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Seattle
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Seattle
Median Home Value
$21k less
$879,900 vs $900,600
Seattle
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 4.8% unemployment
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$9,331
$125,399 vs $116,068/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
87% lower
102.2 vs 775.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Seattle, WA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $879,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,945⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,068 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 238⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.7% ✓ Higher | 49.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Seattle School District No. 1 | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 78.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.5" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 734,603 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.5% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Seattle's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Seattle is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 13 of 23 categories. Seattle wins 10 and Thousand Oaks wins 13. 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 Seattle to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($879,900 vs $900,600 median home), income ($116,068 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Seattle, WA and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 945 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.