Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oklahoma City, OK
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 15 of 23 categories
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Homes cost $532k less ($196,700 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $1052/mo less ($1,012 vs $2,064)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $35,162/yr
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Marcos, CA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
Households earn $35,162 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 49°F
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Oklahoma City
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$532k less
$196,700 vs $728,800
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 87.2°F
San Marcos
Median Income
$35,162
$99,413 vs $64,251/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
67% lower
222.4 vs 676.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,700 ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,012 ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,251 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.5% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OKLAHOMA CITY | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 681,088 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oklahoma City's cost of living index is 91.0 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 15 of 23 categories. Oklahoma City wins 8 and San Marcos wins 15. 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 Oklahoma City to San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,700 vs $728,800 median home), income ($64,251 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oklahoma City, OK and San Marcos, CA are about 1,132 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.