Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Huntsville leads 17 of 23 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Oxnard
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
202,279
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Homes cost $351k less ($236,300 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $887/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,907)
19% less violent crime than Oxnard
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Oxnard by $22,535/yr
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,535 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 50°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 88°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 19% higher than Huntsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Violent Crime
19% lower
483.2 vs 596.4 per 100k
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$351k less
$236,300 vs $587,200
Huntsville
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Huntsville
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$22,535
$90,409 vs $67,874/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 ✓ Lower | $587,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 12.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 202,279 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 54.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 17 of 23 categories. Huntsville wins 17 and Oxnard wins 6. 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 Huntsville to Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $587,200 median home), income ($67,874 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Oxnard, CA are about 1,853 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.