Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Allentown leads 13 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Oxnard
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
202,279 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $418k less ($168,800 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $705/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,907)
54% less violent crime than Oxnard
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $37,960/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.9%)
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,960 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 86°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 15% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
54% lower
272.1 vs 596.4 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$418k less
$168,800 vs $587,200
Allentown
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.4°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$37,960
$90,409 vs $52,449/yr
Oxnard
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.9% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $587,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 19.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 12.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 202,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 54.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allentown leads 13 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 13 and Oxnard wins 10. 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 Allentown to Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $587,200 median home), income ($52,449 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Oxnard, CA are about 2,415 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.