Median rent is 24% lower in Oxnard ($2,032/mo vs $2,664/mo). Buying is cheaper in Oxnard, where the median home runs $652,700 versus $991,600. Households earn more in Thousand Oaks ($135,603 vs $96,212 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (85.8).
City A
Oxnard, CA
City B
Thousand Oaks, CA
How much would you need to earn in Thousand Oaks, CA to maintain your standard of living from Oxnard, CA?
Equivalent salary in Thousand Oaks, CA
$75,000
Costs are about the same in both cities.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Oxnard
California
Thousand Oaks
California
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Oxnard — median rent of $2,032/mo versus $2,664/mo in Thousand Oaks, a 24% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Thousand Oaks: the median home is $991,600 versus $652,700 in Oxnard — 34% more expensive.
Metric
Oxnard
Thousand Oaks
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Oxnard
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Thousand Oaks
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Oxnard (avg AQI 58.0) but not yet for Thousand Oaks.
Pick Thousand Oaks if you prioritize higher median household income ($135,603/yr).
Pick Oxnard if you prioritize cheaper rent ($2,032/mo median).
Oxnard is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 85.8 versus 85.8 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Oxnard.
Median rent is $2,032/mo in Oxnard, CA and $2,664/mo in Thousand Oaks, CA. Oxnard, CA has the lower rent by about 24%.
Median household income is $96,212 in Oxnard, CA and $135,603 in Thousand Oaks, CA. Thousand Oaks, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Oxnard, CA is equivalent to roughly $100,000 in Thousand Oaks, CA (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
