Cary, NC 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.
Cary
72.1
#924 nationally
Thousand Oaks
66.7
#1516 nationally
Cary leads in cost of living index (125 vs 190). Cary leads in crime level (1.9 vs 2.8). Thousand Oaks leads in walk score (33 vs 28).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cary, NC | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#924) | 66.7 (#1516) |
| Population | 180,010 | 123,463 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,913 | $1,047,273 |
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $125,399 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 25.1 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 33 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | 2.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 190 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+15.1 |
C-
72.1 Score
Cary, NC
Mid-size North Carolina city with community character
Median Home
$628,913
Population
180,010
Crime
Low
Walk Score
28
Southeast
View Cary, NC →
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 →
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