Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oxnard, CA
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 14 of 23 categories
Oxnard
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,409
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
202,279
Santa Clarita
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Rent averages $408/mo less ($1,907 vs $2,315)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Homes cost $82k less ($587,200 vs $669,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Cons
Violent crime (596.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $25,777/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
72% less violent crime than Oxnard
Households earn $25,777 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Longer commutes — 35.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Oxnard
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Oxnard
Median Home Value
$82k less
$587,200 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$25,777
$116,186 vs $90,409/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
72% lower
165.4 vs 596.4 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
21.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 72.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oxnard, CA | Santa Clarita, 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 ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,907⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,409 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | C+ (84) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oxnard | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 72.9°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.9" ✓ Drier | 15.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,279 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.6% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oxnard's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Oxnard is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 14 of 23 categories. Oxnard wins 9 and Santa Clarita 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 Oxnard to Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($587,200 vs $669,200 median home), income ($90,409 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oxnard, CA and Santa Clarita, CA are about 43 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.