Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Denver leads 13 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Oxnard
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
202,279
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.7%)
Rent averages $242/mo less ($1,665 vs $1,907)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Homes cost $47k less ($540,400 vs $587,200)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Median income trails Oxnard by $4,556/yr
Oxnard, CA
Pros
40% less violent crime than Denver
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 90°F
Households earn $4,556 more per year on average
Cons
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)
Higher rents — median is $1,907/mo
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Home Value
$47k less
$540,400 vs $587,200
Denver
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Denver
Summer Heat
17.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$4,556
$90,409 vs $85,853/yr
Oxnard
Violent Crime
40% lower
596.4 vs 993.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $587,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" | 12.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 202,279 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 54.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Denver is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 13 of 23 categories. Denver wins 13 and Oxnard wins 10. 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 Denver to Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $587,200 median home), income ($85,853 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Oxnard, CA are about 878 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.