Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Madison leads 16 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Oxnard
California
7
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.
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $261k less ($326,600 vs $587,200)
57% less violent crime than Oxnard
Rent averages $616/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,907)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $15,514/yr
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,514 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 28°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 82°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 18% higher than Madison
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Violent Crime
57% lower
256.0 vs 596.4 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$261k less
$326,600 vs $587,200
Madison
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Madison
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 82.2°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$15,514
$90,409 vs $74,895/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $587,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 12.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 202,279 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 54.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Madison is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 16 of 23 categories. Madison wins 16 and Oxnard wins 7. 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 Madison to Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $587,200 median home), income ($74,895 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Oxnard, CA are about 1,709 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.