Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oxnard, CA
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Oxnard leads 13 of 22 categories
Oxnard
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,409
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
202,279
San Francisco
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Homes cost $762k less ($587,200 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $409/mo less ($1,907 vs $2,316)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 59°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $46,280/yr
Violent crime (596.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,280 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 73°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Oxnard
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Oxnard
Median Home Value
$762k less
$587,200 vs $1,348,700
Oxnard
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 72.9°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$46,280
$136,689 vs $90,409/yr
San Francisco
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oxnard, CA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $587,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,907⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,409 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oxnard | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.9" ✓ Drier | 30.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,279 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.6% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oxnard's cost of living index is 113.5 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Oxnard is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Oxnard leads 13 of 22 categories. Oxnard wins 13 and San Francisco wins 9. 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($587,200 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($90,409 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oxnard, CA and San Francisco, CA are about 324 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.