Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Erie leads 14 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826
Oxnard
California
9
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.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $486k less ($101,500 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $1098/mo less ($809 vs $1,907)
37% less violent crime than Oxnard
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $47,274/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.9%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,274 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 35°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 81°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 22% higher than Erie
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
37% lower
375.6 vs 596.4 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$486k less
$101,500 vs $587,200
Erie
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 81.1°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$47,274
$90,409 vs $43,135/yr
Oxnard
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $587,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 12.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 202,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 54.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 14 of 23 categories. Erie wins 14 and Oxnard 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 Erie to Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $587,200 median home), income ($43,135 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Oxnard, CA are about 2,175 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.