Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oceanside, CA
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Oceanside leads 14 of 21 categories
Oceanside
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,701
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
173,722
Oxnard
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
202,279 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oceanside, CA
Pros
23% less violent crime than Oxnard
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Cons
Violent crime (458.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $644,600
Higher rents — median is $2,078/mo
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Homes cost $57k less ($587,200 vs $644,600)
Rent averages $171/mo less ($1,907 vs $2,078)
Smaller class sizes — 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $3,708 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (596.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Oceanside
Key Differences at a Glance
Oceanside
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Oceanside
Violent Crime
23% lower
458.7 vs 596.4 per 100k
Oceanside
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 76.5°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$3,708
$90,409 vs $86,701/yr
Oxnard
Median Home Value
$57k less
$587,200 vs $644,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oceanside, CA | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $644,600⚠ High | $587,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,078⚠ High | $1,907⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,701 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.8 min⚠ High | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (76) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 27.3:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.7% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scholarship Prep - Oceanside District | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.7°F ✓ Warmer | 65.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 12.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 173,722 | 202,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 54.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oceanside's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Oceanside is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Oceanside leads 14 of 21 categories. Oceanside wins 14 and Oxnard wins 7. 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 Oceanside to Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($644,600 vs $587,200 median home), income ($86,701 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oceanside, CA and Oxnard, CA are about 128 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.