Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Bakersfield leads 14 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Oxnard
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
202,279
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $267k less ($320,600 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $624/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,907)
7% less violent crime than Oxnard
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
More college-educated — 23.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Oxnard by $16,582/yr
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.9%)
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,582 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 97°F
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 58°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Violent Crime
7% lower
554.6 vs 596.4 per 100k
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$267k less
$320,600 vs $587,200
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
24.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$16,582
$90,409 vs $73,827/yr
Oxnard
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $587,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 12.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 202,279 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 54.6% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 26.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 10.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 14 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 14 and Oxnard wins 9. 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 Bakersfield to Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $587,200 median home), income ($73,827 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Oxnard, CA are about 80 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.