Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oceanside, CA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Oceanside
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,701
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
173,722 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oceanside, CA
Pros
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Rent averages $84/mo less ($2,078 vs $2,162)
Cons
Violent crime (458.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tracy by $25,016/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $644,600
Tracy, CA
Pros
34% less violent crime than Oceanside
Households earn $25,016 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Smaller class sizes — 22.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Homes cost $27k less ($617,300 vs $644,600)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Oceanside
Cons
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Tracy
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Income
$25,016
$111,717 vs $86,701/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
34% lower
301.4 vs 458.7 per 100k
Tracy
Median Home Value
$27k less
$617,300 vs $644,600
Tracy
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
16.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oceanside, CA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $644,600⚠ High | $617,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,078⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,701 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (76) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 27.3:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.7% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scholarship Prep - Oceanside District | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.7°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 12.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 173,722 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oceanside's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Oceanside wins 11 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($644,600 vs $617,300 median home), income ($86,701 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oceanside, CA and Tracy, CA are about 389 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.