Moving from Thousand Oaks, CA to Little Rock, AR

Moving from Thousand Oaks, CA to Little Rock, AR is a 1702 mi cross-country relocation β€” about 29h 23m of driving through 6 states. At this range professional movers, a PODS or U-Pack container, or an auto-transport service are usually on the table. The sections below pull current BEA cost-of-living, Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS, BLS wages, and NOAA climate normals for a side-by-side view.

1702 mi Β· 29h 23m by car Β· AR β†’ OK β†’ TX β†’ NM β†’ AZ β†’ CA

COL -19.2% Home values -79.4% Ξ” -0.8Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
1702 mi
Drive time
29h 23m
States
6
Fuel (25 mpg)
68 gal
Route throughAR β†’ OK β†’ TX β†’ NM β†’ AZ β†’ CA
Primary highwaysI 40, US 65, US 66 HIST
Major cities en routeNorman, Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Albuquerque, Rio Rancho

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

Thousand OaksLittle RockU.S. avg
All items (RPP)110.53489.364100.0
Rents152.92574.635100.0
Goods105.16893.577100.0
Services171.09668.295100.0

RPP moves from 110.534 to 89.364, putting Little Rock roughly 19.2% below Thousand Oaks on the overall price level.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Thousand Oaks β€” typical home
$1,049,634
Little Rock β€” typical home
$216,519
Thousand Oaks β€” typical rent
$3,476/mo
Little Rock β€” typical rent
$1,189/mo

Homes run dramatically cheaper in Little Rock: 19.2% below Thousand Oaks on Zillow ZHVI (2026-03).

YoY change: Thousand Oaks 0.0%, Little Rock +2.2%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsThousand OaksLittle Rock
Annual avg temperature63Β°F62Β°F
January avg low45Β°F31Β°F
July avg high78Β°F92Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”3.8"
Annual precipitation12.0"50.4"

No material annual-average temperature gap; seasonal extremes may still differ.

Light snow year: Little Rock gets around 3.8 in annually.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: CAMARILLO AP, CA US, LITTLE ROCK AP ADAMS FLD, AR US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023Thousand OaksLittle Rock
Population125,676202,739
Median household income$134,367$60,583
Median age44.536.4
Bachelor's degree or higher29.5%25%
Avg household size2.722.33

Median household income in Little Rock is 19.2% below Thousand Oaks ($134,367 vs $60,583, ACS 5-year 2023).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Thousand Oaks MSA β€” median wage
$48,380
Little Rock MSA β€” median wage
$42,100
Thousand Oaks MSA β€” employment
315,720
Little Rock MSA β€” employment
345,890

Top occupations in Little Rock MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 43,980 $37,850
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 33,840 $37,820
Sales and Related Occupations 31,830 $31,870
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations 30,330 $67,930
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 29,950 $27,320

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between California and Arkansas

California income tax
13.3% top marginal
Arkansas income tax
3.9% top marginal

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Arkansas's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • Raton Pass (I-25 at the Colorado line) can close in winter storms.
  • I-17 and I-40 through the Flagstaff area can see winter closures; the rest of Arizona is generally clear year-round.
  • Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Air conditioning matters: July highs in Little Rock average 92Β°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
  • Pack rain gear on top: Little Rock averages 50.4 in of annual precipitation β€” waterproof jackets and boots are worth unpacking before the big boxes.
  • Tornado risk peaks April through May β€” identify a safe room on day one.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
  • Register to vote in Arkansas after establishing residency.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to move from Thousand Oaks to Little Rock?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1702 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How does household income compare in Thousand Oaks vs Little Rock?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $60,583 in Little Rock vs $134,367 in Thousand Oaks β€” a 54.9% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

Is Little Rock more expensive than Thousand Oaks?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Little Rock is 19.2% lower than Thousand Oaks (89.364 vs 110.534, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

How far is Little Rock, AR from Thousand Oaks, CA?

The driving distance is 1702 mi and the route typically takes 29h 23m via I 40 and US 65. The trip crosses 6 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

How much do homes cost in Little Rock compared to Thousand Oaks?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $216,519 in Little Rock vs $1,049,634 in Thousand Oaks β€” a 79.4% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

How does the job market in Little Rock compare to Thousand Oaks?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $42,100 in the Little Rock MSA vs $48,380 in the Thousand Oaks MSA, on total employment of 345,890 and 315,720 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Thousand Oaks.

City profiles: Thousand Oaks, CA Β· Little Rock, AR.

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