Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oxnard, CA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 16 of 23 categories
Oxnard
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
202,279 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 48°F
Households earn $7,471 more per year on average
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)
Sparks, NV
Pros
34% less violent crime than Oxnard
Homes cost $164k less ($423,500 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $381/mo less ($1,526 vs $1,907)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
More college-educated — 25.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Oxnard by $7,471/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Oxnard
Median Income
$7,471
$90,409 vs $82,938/yr
Sparks
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Violent Crime
34% lower
394.4 vs 596.4 per 100k
Sparks
Median Home Value
$164k less
$423,500 vs $587,200
Sparks
Summer Heat
19.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 72.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oxnard, CA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $587,200⚠ High | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,907⚠ High | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,409 ✓ Higher | $82,938 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 25.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oxnard | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 72.9°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.9" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,279 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.6% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oxnard's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 16 of 23 categories. Oxnard wins 7 and Sparks 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($587,200 vs $423,500 median home), income ($90,409 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oxnard, CA and Sparks, NV are about 372 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.