Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oxnard, CA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 15 of 22 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
Tempe
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,387 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 106°F
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
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $205k less ($382,100 vs $587,200)
21% less violent crime than Oxnard
Rent averages $435/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,907)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Oxnard by $18,387/yr
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Oxnard
Median Income
$18,387
$90,409 vs $72,022/yr
Tempe
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Violent Crime
21% lower
470.3 vs 596.4 per 100k
Tempe
Median Home Value
$205k less
$382,100 vs $587,200
Tempe
Summer Heat
33.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 72.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oxnard, CA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $587,200⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,907⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,409 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oxnard | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.9°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 72.9°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.9" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,279 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 33.5 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.6% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oxnard's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tempe leads 15 of 22 categories. Oxnard wins 7 and Tempe wins 15. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($587,200 vs $382,100 median home), income ($90,409 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oxnard, CA and Tempe, AZ are about 421 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.