Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Norman leads 12 of 22 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Oakland
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $659k less ($224,900 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $845/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,849)
86% less violent crime than Oakland
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $31,540/yr
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,540 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Norman
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Violent Crime
86% lower
260.2 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Norman
Median Home Value
$659k less
$224,900 vs $883,800
Norman
Summer Heat
20.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$31,540
$94,389 vs $62,849/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 19.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Norman is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Norman leads 12 of 22 categories. Norman wins 12 and Oakland 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 Norman to Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $883,800 median home), income ($62,849 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Oakland, CA are about 1,389 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.