Santa Clara vs Thousand Oaks: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Santa Clara, CA and Thousand Oaks, CA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Santa Clara, CA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 128,058 | 126,532 |
| Median household income | $165,352 | $125,399 |
| Median home value | $1,440,200 | $900,600 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $2,841 | $2,483 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Santa Clara, CA and Thousand Oaks, CA comes down to what you value most. Thousand Oaks has the lower median home value, and Thousand Oaks has the lower median rent.
Santa Clara has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Santa Clara or Thousand Oaks?
- By median home value, Thousand Oaks is the cheaper of the two ($900,600 vs $1,440,200). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Santa Clara or Thousand Oaks?
- Median household income is $165,352 in Santa Clara versus $125,399 in Thousand Oaks, per the US Census Bureau.