Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oakland, CA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 15 of 21 categories
Oakland
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oakland, CA
Pros
Rent averages $299/mo less ($1,849 vs $2,148)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 83°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Median income trails Orange by $14,946/yr
Property crime (7230.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Orange, CA
Pros
88% less violent crime than Oakland
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Households earn $14,946 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 60°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Orange
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Orange
Median Income
$14,946
$109,335 vs $94,389/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
88% lower
226.1 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Orange
Median Home Value
$36k less
$848,200 vs $883,800
Orange
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Orange
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oakland, CA | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,800⚠ High | $848,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,849⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,389 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.5 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 507⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 344⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oakland Unified | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.5" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 437,825 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oakland's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Orange is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Orange leads 15 of 21 categories. Oakland wins 6 and Orange wins 15. 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 Oakland to Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,800 vs $848,200 median home), income ($94,389 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oakland, CA and Orange, CA are about 368 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.