Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Denton leads 15 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Oxnard
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
202,279 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $291k less ($296,100 vs $587,200)
66% less violent crime than Oxnard
Rent averages $643/mo less ($1,264 vs $1,907)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.8%)
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $18,488/yr
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,488 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 96°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Violent Crime
66% lower
204.2 vs 596.4 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$291k less
$296,100 vs $587,200
Denton
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
23.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$18,488
$90,409 vs $71,921/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $587,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 12.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 202,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 54.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Denton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 15 of 23 categories. Denton wins 15 and Oxnard 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 Denton to Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $587,200 median home), income ($71,921 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Oxnard, CA are about 1,268 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.