Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oxnard, CA
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories
Oxnard
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
202,279 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 23°F
Households earn $6,436 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 80°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $587,200
Higher rents — median is $1,907/mo
Violent crime (596.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $318k less ($268,800 vs $587,200)
74% less violent crime than Oxnard
Rent averages $689/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,907)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $6,436/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Oxnard
Median Income
$6,436
$90,409 vs $83,973/yr
Rochester
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
74% lower
154.0 vs 596.4 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$318k less
$268,800 vs $587,200
Rochester
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Rochester
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 72.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oxnard, CA | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $587,200⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,907⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,409 ✓ Higher | $83,973 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oxnard | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 72.9°F | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.9" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,279 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.6% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oxnard's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories. Oxnard wins 6 and Rochester wins 16. 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($587,200 vs $268,800 median home), income ($90,409 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oxnard, CA and Rochester, MN are about 1,576 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.