Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oxnard, CA
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Waterbury leads 12 of 23 categories
Oxnard
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
202,279 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,958 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 37°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 84°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 18% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $424k less ($162,800 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $767/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,907)
46% less violent crime than Oxnard
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $38,958/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.9%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Oxnard
Median Income
$38,958
$90,409 vs $51,451/yr
Oxnard
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
5.9% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
46% lower
322.5 vs 596.4 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$424k less
$162,800 vs $587,200
Waterbury
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 84.0°F vs 72.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oxnard, CA | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $587,200⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,907⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,409 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 6.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 81.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oxnard | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 72.9°F | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.9" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,279 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.6% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oxnard's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waterbury leads 12 of 23 categories. Oxnard wins 11 and Waterbury wins 12. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($587,200 vs $162,800 median home), income ($90,409 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oxnard, CA and Waterbury, CT are about 2,538 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.