Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oceanside, CA
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Oceanside leads 12 of 23 categories
Oceanside
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,701
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
173,722 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oceanside, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
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
Renton, WA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Oceanside
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.2%)
Homes cost $68k less ($576,800 vs $644,600)
Rent averages $214/mo less ($1,864 vs $2,078)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,591 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Oceanside
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Renton
Median Income
$5,591
$92,292 vs $86,701/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
26% lower
339.2 vs 458.7 per 100k
Renton
Median Home Value
$68k less
$576,800 vs $644,600
Renton
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oceanside, CA | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $644,600⚠ High | $576,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,078⚠ High | $1,864⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,701 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (76) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 27.3:1 | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.7% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scholarship Prep - Oceanside District | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 77.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 173,722 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oceanside's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Oceanside is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oceanside leads 12 of 23 categories. Oceanside wins 12 and Renton wins 11. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($644,600 vs $576,800 median home), income ($86,701 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oceanside, CA and Renton, WA are about 1,017 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.