Thousand Oaks vs Columbia: Cost of Living (2026)

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

MetricThousand Oaks, CAColumbia, MO
Population126,532126,172
Median household income$125,399$60,455
Median home value$900,600$248,600
Median rent (/mo)$2,483$997

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

Comparing Thousand Oaks, CA and Columbia, MO comes down to what you value most. Columbia has the lower median home value, and Columbia 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 Columbia?
By median home value, Columbia is the cheaper of the two ($248,600 vs $900,600). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Thousand Oaks or Columbia?
Median household income is $125,399 in Thousand Oaks versus $60,455 in Columbia, per the US Census Bureau.

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