Thousand Oaks, California, nestled in the Conejo Valley, is renowned for its picturesque landscapes and high quality of life. Located just north of Los Angeles, this suburban city offers a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the big city while providing easy access to urban amenities. The city's name reflects the thousands of oak trees that adorn its streets and parks, creating a serene and natural environment.
Residents of Thousand Oaks enjoy an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities, thanks to the city's extensive park system and proximity to the Santa Monica Mountains. The Conejo Valley Botanic Garden, Wildwood Regional Park, and numerous hiking and biking trails offer residents a chance to explore and appreciate the natural beauty of the area. These amenities contribute to the city's reputation as a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.
The city boasts a strong sense of community, with top-rated schools, family-friendly neighborhoods, and a variety of cultural and recreational activities. The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza is a cultural hub, hosting performances, concerts, and events that cater to diverse interests. Additionally, the city's commitment to preserving its natural environment and green spaces is evident in its well-maintained parks and open areas.
Thousand Oaks has a thriving economy supported by a mix of industries, including biotechnology, healthcare, and education. Major employers such as Amgen, one of the world's leading biotechnology companies, provide numerous job opportunities for residents. The city's economic stability and job market are significant factors in its attractiveness to families and professionals alike.
Public transportation in Thousand Oaks includes bus services provided by Thousand Oaks Transit, facilitating easy commutes within the city and to neighboring areas. The city's Mediterranean climate, characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters, makes it an ideal place for outdoor activities year-round. Overall, Thousand Oaks offers a blend of suburban tranquility, natural beauty, and economic opportunity.
Commute
The high commute score in this area could imply easy access to public transportation, as well as shorter-than-average commute times to your workplace.
Crime
This area boasts a crime rate that is far below the national average, making it a very safe place to live. These crime statistics encompass both property and violent offenses.
Employment
With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.
Schools
The high score in the schools category can be attributed to outstanding test scores, elevated graduation rates and the convenient placement of elementary and high schools in this area.
Cost Of Living
This area is known for its high cost of living, which means you should anticipate higher costs for everyday goods and services, housing, groceries, and health care.
Health & Safety
Subpar air quality and the limited availability of certain health-related facilities such as hospitals, police stations, doctors and pharmacies may have contributed to the low score in this category.
Thousand Oaks, California is a mid-sized city with a population of 131,108 inhabitants. The majority of Thousand Oaks residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Asian and Black. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Thousand Oaks, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re moving to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Thousand Oaks could be a positive experience compared to other cities in California if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like education, employment, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Thousand Oaks and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Thousand Oaks to California and the national average.
The livability score in Thousand Oaks is 71 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 78th percentile of all cities across America. If we examine each of the categories individually, we see that Thousand Oaks ranks well for crime (A+) and education (B+). Thousand Oaks does not score well for the following: cost of living (F). It might be a smart idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
Crime rates can be the deciding factor for anyone looking to relocate to a new area, as the result is often a greater level of safety and security as well as an improved quality of life. Thousand Oaks gets top scores for their low violent crime rates of 102 crimes per 100,000 residents, which are significantly lower than the national average.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Thousand Oaks is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Thousand Oaks come in at $1,348,230, which is 84.3% higher than the California average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Thousand Oaks, the home price to income ratio is 8.5, which is 10.4% higher than the California average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Thousand Oaks | California | National |
| Average one way commute | 26min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 76.7% | 73.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 7.1% | 10.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.6% | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.2% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.5% | 2.7% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 12.8% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
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