Santa Clarita, CA vs Thousand Oaks, CA

Santa Clarita is moderately more affordable than Thousand Oaks, with a 10.9% lower cost of living index. Santa Clarita scores 175 compared to 196 for Thousand Oaks, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Thousand Oaks can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Santa Clarita is $2,486/month compared to $2,580/month in Thousand Oaks — a 4% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Santa Clarita is more affordable at $721,000 median vs $951,200.

Median household income in Santa Clarita is $119,926 compared to $134,367 in Thousand Oaks (-10.7%). The higher salaries in Thousand Oaks partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Santa Clarita spend roughly 24.9% of their income on rent, more than the 23% in Thousand Oaks.

Climate-wise, Santa Clarita is notably warmer with an average of 66.6°F compared to 62.5°F in Thousand Oaks. Santa Clarita receives more rainfall at 13.4" per year compared to 12" in Thousand Oaks.