Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oceanside, CA
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 13 of 23 categories
Oceanside
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,701 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
173,722 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oceanside, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,758 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 41°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 95°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,078/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $644,600
Violent crime (458.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Provo
Provo, UT
Pros
Rent averages $989/mo less ($1,089 vs $2,078)
Homes cost $253k less ($391,500 vs $644,600)
55% less violent crime than Oceanside
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Oceanside by $28,758/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Oceanside
Median Income
$28,758
$86,701 vs $57,943/yr
Provo
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
55% lower
206.6 vs 458.7 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$253k less
$391,500 vs $644,600
Provo
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
18.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oceanside, CA | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $644,600⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,078⚠ High | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,701 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.8 min⚠ High | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (76) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 27.3:1 | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.7% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scholarship Prep - Oceanside District | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.7°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 173,722 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oceanside's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 13 of 23 categories. Oceanside wins 10 and Provo wins 13. 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 Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($644,600 vs $391,500 median home), income ($86,701 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oceanside, CA and Provo, UT are about 577 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.