Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 12 of 19 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,376
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673
Oxnard
California
7
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.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Homes cost $170k less ($417,600 vs $587,200)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $280/mo less ($1,627 vs $1,907)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 66°F
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $15,033/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,033 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $587,200
Violent crime (596.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,907/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Lauderdale
Median Home Value
$170k less
$417,600 vs $587,200
Fort Lauderdale
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
17.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$15,033
$90,409 vs $75,376/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $587,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 65.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 12.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 | 202,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 54.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Lauderdale is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 12 of 19 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 12 and Oxnard wins 7. 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 Fort Lauderdale to Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $587,200 median home), income ($75,376 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Oxnard, CA are about 2,383 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.