Salem, MA 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.
Salem
68.6
#1307 nationally
Thousand Oaks
66.7
#1516 nationally
Salem leads in walk score (70 vs 33). Thousand Oaks leads in median household income ($125,399 vs $79,196). Thousand Oaks leads in crime level (2.8 vs 4.2).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Salem, MA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.6 (#1307) | 66.7 (#1516) |
| Population | 44,744 | 123,463 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $614,321 | $1,047,273 |
| Median Household Income | $79,196 | $125,399 |
| Average Commute | 30.6 min | 25.1 min |
| Walk Score | 70 | 33 |
| Crime Level | 4.2 | 2.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 135 | 190 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+20.3 | D+15.1 |
D+
68.6 Score
Salem, MA
Small Massachusetts city with local appeal
Median Home
$614,321
Population
44,744
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
70
Northeast
View Salem, MA →
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 →