Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Oxnard leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Oxnard
California
12
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.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $429k less ($158,500 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $790/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,907)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $36,985/yr
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.9%)
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,985 more per year on average
10% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 54°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 Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$429k less
$158,500 vs $587,200
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
18.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$36,985
$90,409 vs $53,424/yr
Oxnard
Violent Crime
10% lower
596.4 vs 660.2 per 100k
Oxnard
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $587,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 5.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 12.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 202,279 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 54.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oxnard leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 11 and Oxnard wins 12. 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 Fayetteville to Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $587,200 median home), income ($53,424 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Oxnard, CA are about 2,272 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.