Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oxnard, CA
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Oxnard
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
202,279 ✓ Larger
Palmdale
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
166,895
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.9%)
Households earn $11,995 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 98°F
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 60°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $587,200
Violent crime (596.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,907/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Homes cost $190k less ($397,500 vs $587,200)
8% less violent crime than Oxnard
Rent averages $282/mo less ($1,625 vs $1,907)
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Oxnard by $11,995/yr
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Oxnard
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Oxnard
Median Income
$11,995
$90,409 vs $78,414/yr
Oxnard
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Violent Crime
8% lower
551.0 vs 596.4 per 100k
Palmdale
Median Home Value
$190k less
$397,500 vs $587,200
Palmdale
Summer Heat
24.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 72.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oxnard, CA | Palmdale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $587,200⚠ High | $397,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,907⚠ High | $1,625⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,409 ✓ Higher | $78,414 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oxnard | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer | 59.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 72.9°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.9" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,279 ✓ Larger | 166,895 |
| Median Age | 33.5 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.6% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oxnard's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Oxnard is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Oxnard wins 11 and Palmdale 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 Oxnard to Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($587,200 vs $397,500 median home), income ($90,409 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oxnard, CA and Palmdale, CA are about 68 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.