Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Long Beach
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Oxnard
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
202,279
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $209/mo less ($1,698 vs $1,907)
Cons
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Oxnard by $11,414/yr
Oxnard, CA
Pros
12% less violent crime than Long Beach
Homes cost $123k less ($587,200 vs $709,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.9%)
Households earn $11,414 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 81°F
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)
Higher rents — median is $1,907/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 81.4°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Oxnard
Median Income
$11,414
$90,409 vs $78,995/yr
Oxnard
Violent Crime
12% lower
596.4 vs 676.4 per 100k
Oxnard
Median Home Value
$123k less
$587,200 vs $709,700
Oxnard
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, 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 | $709,700⚠ High | $587,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 65.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 12.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 202,279 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 54.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach'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, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Long Beach wins 11 and Oxnard 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 Long Beach to Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $587,200 median home), income ($78,995 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Oxnard, CA are about 66 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.