Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Syracuse, NY
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 23 categories
Syracuse
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High
Population
146,134 ✓ 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.
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $783k less ($117,900 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $1551/mo less ($932 vs $2,483)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $81,815/yr
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 4.8%)
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $81,815 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $900,600
Higher rents — median is $2,483/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Syracuse
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Syracuse
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$783k less
$117,900 vs $900,600
Syracuse
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 81.7°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$81,815
$125,399 vs $43,584/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
87% lower
102.2 vs 765.3 per 100k
Thousand Oaks
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Syracuse, NY | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $117,900 ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $932 ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,584 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 201⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 201⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 202⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.7% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.5% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 127.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 146,134 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.8% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Syracuse's cost of living index is 95.2 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 15 of 23 categories. Syracuse wins 8 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 Syracuse to Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($117,900 vs $900,600 median home), income ($43,584 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Syracuse, NY and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 2,359 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.