Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Oxnard leads 12 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Oxnard
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
202,279 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $374k less ($213,400 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $777/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,907)
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $35,673/yr
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.9%)
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,673 more per year on average
27% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $587,200
Higher rents — median is $1,907/mo
Violent crime (596.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$374k less
$213,400 vs $587,200
Albany
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$35,673
$90,409 vs $54,736/yr
Oxnard
Violent Crime
27% lower
596.4 vs 816.9 per 100k
Oxnard
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $587,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 12.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 202,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 54.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Albany is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oxnard leads 12 of 23 categories. Albany wins 11 and Oxnard wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $587,200 median home), income ($54,736 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Oxnard, CA are about 2,495 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.