Salinas, CA vs Thousand Oaks, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Salinas
63.5
#1766 nationally
Thousand Oaks
66.7
#1516 nationally
Thousand Oaks leads in crime level (2.8 vs 14.4). Salinas leads in walk score (55 vs 33). Thousand Oaks leads in median household income ($125,399 vs $84,250).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Salinas, CA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63.5 (#1766) | 66.7 (#1516) |
| Population | 159,506 | 123,463 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $753,868 | $1,047,273 |
| Median Household Income | $84,250 | $125,399 |
| Average Commute | 25.9 min | 25.1 min |
| Walk Score | 55 | 33 |
| Crime Level | 14.4 | 2.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 149 | 190 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+29.9 | D+15.1 |
D
63.5 Score
Salinas, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$753,868
Population
159,506
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
55
Pacific
View Salinas, CA →
D
66.7 Score
Thousand Oaks, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,047,273
Population
123,463
Crime
Low
Walk Score
33
Pacific
View Thousand Oaks, CA →
Try a different matchup
Swap Salinas for: