Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oceanside, CA
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Oceanside leads 13 of 23 categories
Oceanside
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,701 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
173,722
Salem
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oceanside, CA
Pros
14% less violent crime than Salem
Households earn $19,161 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $644,600
Higher rents — median is $2,078/mo
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)
Salem, OR
Pros
Homes cost $295k less ($349,500 vs $644,600)
Rent averages $854/mo less ($1,224 vs $2,078)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Oceanside
Smaller class sizes — 19.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Oceanside by $19,161/yr
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Oceanside
Median Income
$19,161
$86,701 vs $67,540/yr
Oceanside
Violent Crime
14% lower
458.7 vs 532.2 per 100k
Salem
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$295k less
$349,500 vs $644,600
Salem
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 83.5°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oceanside, CA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $644,600⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,078⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,701 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.8 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (76) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 27.3:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.7% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scholarship Prep - Oceanside District | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 173,722 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oceanside's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oceanside leads 13 of 23 categories. Oceanside wins 13 and Salem 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 Oceanside to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($644,600 vs $349,500 median home), income ($86,701 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oceanside, CA and Salem, OR are about 864 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.