Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Dayton leads 12 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
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.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $501k less ($86,200 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $1077/mo less ($830 vs $1,907)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $48,966/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 5.9%)
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,966 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 87°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 Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$501k less
$86,200 vs $587,200
Dayton
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$48,966
$90,409 vs $41,443/yr
Oxnard
Violent Crime
55% lower
596.4 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Oxnard
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
5.9% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $587,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 12.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 202,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 54.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dayton leads 12 of 23 categories. Dayton 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 Dayton to Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $587,200 median home), income ($41,443 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Oxnard, CA are about 1,957 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.