Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Inglewood, CA
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Inglewood
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,563
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,806
Oakland
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Inglewood, CA
Pros
65% less violent crime than Oakland
Homes cost $194k less ($689,700 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $183/mo less ($1,666 vs $1,849)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 60°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $26,826/yr
Violent crime (674.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3614.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,826 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 77°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (7230.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Inglewood
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Inglewood
Violent Crime
65% lower
674.6 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Inglewood
Median Home Value
$194k less
$689,700 vs $883,800
Inglewood
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 77.2°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$26,826
$94,389 vs $67,563/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Inglewood, CA | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $689,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,666⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,563 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.8% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.6% | 85.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inglewood Unified | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 59.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 22.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,806 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.5% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.3% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Inglewood's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Inglewood is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Inglewood wins 11 and Oakland wins 11. 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 Inglewood to Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($689,700 vs $883,800 median home), income ($67,563 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Inglewood, CA and Oakland, CA are about 342 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.