Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Oxnard leads 13 of 23 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754
Oxnard
California
13
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.
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $361k less ($226,200 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $802/mo less ($1,105 vs $1,907)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $36,314/yr
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.9%)
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,314 more per year on average
23% less violent crime than Columbia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 56°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 Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$361k less
$226,200 vs $587,200
Columbia
Summer Heat
19.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$36,314
$90,409 vs $54,095/yr
Oxnard
Violent Crime
23% lower
596.4 vs 769.9 per 100k
Oxnard
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $587,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 12.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 | 202,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 54.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 10.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oxnard leads 13 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 10 and Oxnard wins 13. 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 Columbia to Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $587,200 median home), income ($54,095 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Oxnard, CA are about 2,178 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.