Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Buckeye leads 13 of 22 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Oakland
California
9
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.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $542k less ($341,700 vs $883,800)
91% less violent crime than Oakland
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $252/mo less ($1,597 vs $1,849)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Oakland, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 107°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Buckeye
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Violent Crime
91% lower
166.8 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Buckeye
Median Home Value
$542k less
$341,700 vs $883,800
Buckeye
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
34.9°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 31.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 59.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 22.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 13 of 22 categories. Buckeye wins 13 and Oakland 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 Buckeye to Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $883,800 median home), income ($94,188 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Oakland, CA are about 616 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.