Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oceanside, CA
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma 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
Population
173,722 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oceanside, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,389 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 107°F
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 18% higher than Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $458k less ($186,500 vs $644,600)
Rent averages $1050/mo less ($1,028 vs $2,078)
8% less violent crime than Oceanside
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Oceanside
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Oceanside by $27,389/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.9%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Oceanside
Median Income
$27,389
$86,701 vs $59,312/yr
Oceanside
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Violent Crime
8% lower
423.6 vs 458.7 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$458k less
$186,500 vs $644,600
Yuma
Summer Heat
30.2°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oceanside, CA | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $644,600⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,078⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,701 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.8 min⚠ High | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (76) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 27.3:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 86.7% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scholarship Prep - Oceanside District | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.7°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 173,722 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oceanside's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yuma leads 14 of 22 categories. Oceanside wins 8 and Yuma 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($644,600 vs $186,500 median home), income ($86,701 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oceanside, CA and Yuma, AZ are about 169 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.