Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaumont, TX
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Beaumont leads 15 of 23 categories
Beaumont
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,745
Violent Crime Index
299⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,573
Oakland
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Beaumont, TX
Pros
Homes cost $733k less ($150,400 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $857/mo less ($992 vs $1,849)
41% less violent crime than Oakland
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $40,644/yr
Violent crime (1137.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3302.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,644 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Beaumont
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaumont
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Beaumont
Violent Crime
41% lower
1137.3 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Beaumont
Median Home Value
$733k less
$150,400 vs $883,800
Beaumont
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Beaumont
Summer Heat
20.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$40,644
$94,389 vs $53,745/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaumont, TX | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,400 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $992 ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,745 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 242⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 299⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.8% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BEAUMONT ISD | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.6°F ✓ Warmer | 59.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.1" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,573 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaumont's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Beaumont is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Beaumont leads 15 of 23 categories. Beaumont wins 15 and Oakland wins 8. 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 Beaumont to Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,400 vs $883,800 median home), income ($53,745 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaumont, TX and Oakland, CA are about 1,688 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.