Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Oxnard
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
202,279 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Homes cost $93k less ($494,100 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $242/mo less ($1,665 vs $1,907)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Oxnard by $7,623/yr
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Oxnard, CA
Pros
24% less violent crime than Lakewood
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 45°F
Households earn $7,623 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 86°F
Cons
Violent crime (596.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $587,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,907/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Home Value
$93k less
$494,100 vs $587,200
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Lakewood
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$7,623
$90,409 vs $82,786/yr
Oxnard
Violent Crime
24% lower
596.4 vs 787.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $587,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 12.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 | 202,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 54.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 13 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 Lakewood to Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $587,200 median home), income ($82,786 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Oxnard, CA are about 864 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.