Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Oceanside, CA
🏆 Oceanside leads 13 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Oceanside
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,701 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
173,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $505k less ($139,600 vs $644,600)
Rent averages $1028/mo less ($1,050 vs $2,078)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Oceanside
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Oceanside by $38,611/yr
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.9%)
Oceanside, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,611 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $644,600
Higher rents — median is $2,078/mo
Violent crime (458.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Memphis
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$505k less
$139,600 vs $644,600
Memphis
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 76.5°F
Oceanside
Median Income
$38,611
$86,701 vs $48,090/yr
Oceanside
Violent Crime
82% lower
458.7 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Oceanside
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Oceanside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $644,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $2,078⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $86,701 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 13.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (76) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 27.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Scholarship Prep - Oceanside District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 66.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 173,722 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Oceanside's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Oceanside leads 13 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 9 and Oceanside wins 13. 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 Memphis to Oceanside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $644,600 median home), income ($48,090 vs $86,701), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Oceanside, CA are about 1,563 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.