Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oceanside, CA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 14 of 22 categories
Oceanside
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,701 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
173,722
Tempe
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oceanside, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,679 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 106°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
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $263k less ($382,100 vs $644,600)
Rent averages $606/mo less ($1,472 vs $2,078)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Oceanside
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Oceanside by $14,679/yr
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Oceanside
Median Income
$14,679
$86,701 vs $72,022/yr
Oceanside
Violent Crime
2% lower
458.7 vs 470.3 per 100k
Tempe
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Home Value
$263k less
$382,100 vs $644,600
Tempe
Summer Heat
29.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oceanside, CA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $644,600⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,078⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,701 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.8 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (76) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 27.3:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.7% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scholarship Prep - Oceanside District | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.7°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 173,722 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oceanside's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tempe leads 14 of 22 categories. Oceanside wins 8 and Tempe wins 14. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($644,600 vs $382,100 median home), income ($86,701 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oceanside, CA and Tempe, AZ are about 311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.