Long Beach CA vs Thousand Oaks CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Long Beach, CA

California · Population: 458,491

  • Median HH Income$83,969
  • Median Home Price$862,599
  • Unemployment6.5%
  • Bachelor's+34.8%

Thousand Oaks, CA

California · Population: N/A

  • Median HH IncomeN/A
  • Median Home Price$1,053,424
  • UnemploymentN/A
  • Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Long Beach
458,491
Thousand Oaks
N/A
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Long Beach
N/A
Thousand Oaks
N/A
Median Age
Long Beach
36.8
Thousand Oaks
N/A
Foreign Born
Long Beach
24.7%
Thousand Oaks
N/A
White
Long Beach
41.6%
Thousand Oaks
N/A
Black
Long Beach
11.9%
Thousand Oaks
N/A
Asian
Long Beach
12.8%
Thousand Oaks
N/A
Hispanic
Long Beach
43.4%
Thousand Oaks
N/A
Spanish at Home
Long Beach
N/A
Thousand Oaks
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Long Beach
$83,969
Thousand Oaks
N/A
Per Capita Income
Long Beach
$42,370
Thousand Oaks
N/A
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Long Beach
$77,230
Thousand Oaks
$77,230
Tie
Unemployment Rate
Long Beach
6.5%
Thousand Oaks
N/A
Poverty Rate
Long Beach
15.0%
Thousand Oaks
N/A
Bachelor's Degree+
Long Beach
34.8%
Thousand Oaks
N/A

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Long Beach
$862,599
Long Beach +
Thousand Oaks
$1,053,424
Homeownership Rate
Long Beach
40.9%
Thousand Oaks
N/A

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Long Beach
503
Thousand Oaks
503
Tie
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Long Beach
2388
Thousand Oaks
2388
Tie

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Long Beach
27.4%
Thousand Oaks
23.0%
Thousand Oaks +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Long Beach
11.7%
Thousand Oaks
10.1%
Thousand Oaks +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Long Beach
17.5%
Thousand Oaks
15.0%
Thousand Oaks +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Long Beach
11.9%
Thousand Oaks
5.8%
Thousand Oaks +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Long Beach
15.7%
Thousand Oaks
15.7%
Tie
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Long Beach
11.9%
Thousand Oaks
8.6%
Thousand Oaks +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Long Beach
64.7°F
Thousand Oaks
62.7°F
Thousand Oaks +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Long Beach
12.3 in
Long Beach +
Thousand Oaks
16.5 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Long Beach
7.9 µg/m³
Thousand Oaks
7.9 µg/m³
Tie
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Long Beach
75.0%
Thousand Oaks
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Long Beach
32.6 min
Thousand Oaks
N/A

Which City is Right for You?

Long Beach offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $862,599. On public safety, Thousand Oaks is safer with a violent crime rate of 503 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Long Beach. Thousand Oaks has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Thousand Oaks scores better with a lower obesity rate of 23.0%.

Compare More Cities

About Long Beach & Thousand Oaks