Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Birmingham leads 12 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431
Oxnard
California
11
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.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $464k less ($123,000 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $912/mo less ($995 vs $1,907)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $47,945/yr
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.9%)
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,945 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 55°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 21% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$464k less
$123,000 vs $587,200
Birmingham
Summer Heat
18.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$47,945
$90,409 vs $42,464/yr
Oxnard
Violent Crime
52% lower
596.4 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Oxnard
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $587,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 12.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 202,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 54.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Birmingham leads 12 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 12 and Oxnard wins 11. 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 Birmingham to Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $587,200 median home), income ($42,464 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Oxnard, CA are about 1,852 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.