Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oxnard, CA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 14 of 23 categories
Oxnard
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
202,279 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,353 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than South Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 83°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 22% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $473k less ($113,800 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $972/mo less ($935 vs $1,907)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $41,353/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Oxnard
Median Income
$41,353
$90,409 vs $49,056/yr
Oxnard
Violent Crime
38% lower
596.4 vs 965.0 per 100k
South Bend
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$473k less
$113,800 vs $587,200
South Bend
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.0°F vs 72.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oxnard, CA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $587,200⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,907⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,409 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 28.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oxnard | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 72.9°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.9" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,279 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 33.5 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.6% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oxnard's cost of living index is 113.5 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 14 of 23 categories. Oxnard wins 9 and South Bend 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 South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($587,200 vs $113,800 median home), income ($90,409 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oxnard, CA and South Bend, IN are about 1,855 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.