Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oakland, CA
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Oakland leads 12 of 22 categories
Oakland
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Stockton
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,612
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
320,030
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,777 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
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)
Stockton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $502k less ($382,000 vs $883,800)
40% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $432/mo less ($1,417 vs $1,849)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Cons
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Oakland by $22,777/yr
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Oakland
Median Income
$22,777
$94,389 vs $71,612/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Stockton
Violent Crime
40% lower
1145.8 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Stockton
Median Home Value
$502k less
$382,000 vs $883,800
Stockton
Summer Heat
23.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oakland, CA | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,800⚠ High | $382,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,849⚠ High | $1,417⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,389 ✓ Higher | $71,612 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 231⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 507⚠ High | 302⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 344⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oakland Unified | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.5" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 437,825 ✓ Larger | 320,030 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oakland's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Stockton is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Oakland leads 12 of 22 categories. Oakland wins 12 and Stockton 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 Oakland to Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,800 vs $382,000 median home), income ($94,389 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oakland, CA and Stockton, CA are about 52 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.