Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Fullerton leads 12 of 22 categories
Fullerton
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,280
Oxnard
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,409
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.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
24% less violent crime than Oxnard
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,870 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.9%)
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($587,200 vs $791,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 84°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Rent averages $82/mo less ($1,907 vs $1,989)
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)
Median income trails Fullerton by $8,870/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$8,870
$99,279 vs $90,409/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
24% lower
455.3 vs 596.4 per 100k
Fullerton
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Oxnard
Median Home Value
$204k less
$587,200 vs $791,000
Oxnard
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $587,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,907⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $90,409 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 65.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 12.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 | 202,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 54.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Oxnard is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 12 of 22 categories. Fullerton wins 12 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 Fullerton to Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $587,200 median home), income ($99,279 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Oxnard, CA are about 76 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.