Thousand Oaks vs Topeka: Cost of Living (2026)

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

MetricThousand Oaks, CATopeka, KS
Population126,532126,431
Median household income$125,399$54,052
Median home value$900,600$124,700
Median rent (/mo)$2,483$926

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

Comparing Thousand Oaks, CA and Topeka, KS comes down to what you value most. Topeka has the lower median home value, and Topeka 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 Thousand Oaks or Topeka?
By median home value, Topeka is the cheaper of the two ($124,700 vs $900,600). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Thousand Oaks or Topeka?
Median household income is $125,399 in Thousand Oaks versus $54,052 in Topeka, per the US Census Bureau.

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