Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, MO
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 22 categories
Springfield
Missouri
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Thousand Oaks
California
15
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.
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $754k less ($146,400 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $1605/mo less ($878 vs $2,483)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $81,949/yr
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $81,949 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Springfield
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 43°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $900,600
Higher rents — median is $2,483/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Springfield
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Springfield
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$754k less
$146,400 vs $900,600
Springfield
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$81,949
$125,399 vs $43,450/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
91% lower
102.2 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, MO | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $146,400 ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $878 ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,450 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 266⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 310⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SPRINGFIELD R-XII | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.4°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,873 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 33.3 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 22 categories. Springfield wins 7 and Thousand Oaks wins 15. 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 Springfield to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,400 vs $900,600 median home), income ($43,450 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, MO and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 1,446 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.