Simi Valley vs Thousand Oaks: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Simi Valley, CA and Thousand Oaks, CA, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricSimi Valley, CAThousand Oaks, CA
Population126,153126,532
Median household income$112,144$125,399
Median home value$704,200$900,600
Median rent (/mo)$2,402$2,483

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Simi Valley, CA and Thousand Oaks, CA comes down to what you value most. Simi Valley has the lower median home value, and Simi Valley has the lower median rent.

Thousand Oaks 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 Simi Valley or Thousand Oaks?
By median home value, Simi Valley is the cheaper of the two ($704,200 vs $900,600). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Simi Valley or Thousand Oaks?
Median household income is $112,144 in Simi Valley versus $125,399 in Thousand Oaks, per the US Census Bureau.

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