Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oakland, CA
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 16 of 22 categories
Oakland
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
St. Petersburg
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,333
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
259,343
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,056 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 90°F
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Homes cost $595k less ($289,000 vs $883,800)
68% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $439/mo less ($1,410 vs $1,849)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.6%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $24,056/yr
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Oakland
Median Income
$24,056
$94,389 vs $70,333/yr
St. Petersburg
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
St. Petersburg
Violent Crime
68% lower
619.6 vs 1925.3 per 100k
St. Petersburg
Median Home Value
$595k less
$289,000 vs $883,800
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
St. Petersburg
Summer Heat
18.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oakland, CA | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,800⚠ High | $289,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,849⚠ High | $1,410⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,389 ✓ Higher | $70,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.5 min⚠ High | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 15.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 507⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 344⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 93.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oakland Unified | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.5" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 437,825 ✓ Larger | 259,343 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oakland's cost of living index is 118.2 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
St. Petersburg is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 16 of 22 categories. Oakland wins 6 and St. Petersburg wins 16. 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 St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,800 vs $289,000 median home), income ($94,389 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oakland, CA and St. Petersburg, FL are about 2,382 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.