Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Manchester leads 16 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $283k less ($304,700 vs $587,200)
44% less violent crime than Oxnard
Rent averages $545/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,907)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $16,369/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,369 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 81°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 104.2 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Manchester
Violent Crime
44% lower
336.0 vs 596.4 per 100k
Manchester
Median Home Value
$283k less
$304,700 vs $587,200
Manchester
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Manchester
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 81.1°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$16,369
$90,409 vs $74,040/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 ✓ Lower | $587,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 12.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 202,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 54.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Manchester is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 16 of 23 categories. Manchester 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 Manchester to Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $587,200 median home), income ($74,040 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Oxnard, CA are about 2,613 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.