Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Simi Valley, CA
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 14 of 21 categories
Simi Valley
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144
Violent Crime Index
34
Population
126,153
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Homes cost $196k less ($704,200 vs $900,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $81/mo less ($2,402 vs $2,483)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $13,255/yr
Longer commutes — 28.4 min average each way
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
21% less violent crime than Simi Valley
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $13,255 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 95°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $900,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,483/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Simi Valley
Median Home Value
$196k less
$704,200 vs $900,600
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
17.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 78.0°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 113.5 on the COL index
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$13,255
$125,399 vs $112,144/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
21% lower
102.2 vs 129.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Simi Valley, CA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $704,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,402⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $112,144 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 38 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 49 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.0% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Simi Valley Unified | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 68.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,153 | 126,532 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.8% ✓ Higher | 69.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Simi Valley's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 14 of 21 categories. Simi Valley wins 7 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 Simi Valley to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($704,200 vs $900,600 median home), income ($112,144 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Simi Valley, CA and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 9 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.