Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oceanside, CA
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Oceanside leads 14 of 22 categories
Oceanside
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,701 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
173,722 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oceanside, CA
Pros
Homes cost $133k less ($644,600 vs $777,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.9%)
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,430 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
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)
Higher rents — median is $2,078/mo
Westminster, CA
Pros
Smaller class sizes — 22.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Rent averages $101/mo less ($1,977 vs $2,078)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2498.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Oceanside
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Oceanside
Median Income
$6,430
$86,701 vs $80,271/yr
Oceanside
Median Home Value
$133k less
$644,600 vs $777,100
Oceanside
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.5% unemployment
Westminster
Violent Crime
5% lower
436.2 vs 458.7 per 100k
Westminster
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oceanside, CA | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $644,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,078⚠ High | $1,977⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,701 ✓ Higher | $80,271 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.8 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (76) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 27.3:1 | 22.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.7% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scholarship Prep - Oceanside District | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 173,722 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oceanside's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Oceanside is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Oceanside leads 14 of 22 categories. Oceanside wins 14 and Westminster wins 8. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($644,600 vs $777,100 median home), income ($86,701 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oceanside, CA and Westminster, CA are about 54 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.