Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oxnard, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington 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
Population
202,279 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,501 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 90°F
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 57°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 16% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $269k less ($318,600 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $694/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,907)
19% less violent crime than Oxnard
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.9%)
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $31,501/yr
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Oxnard
Median Income
$31,501
$90,409 vs $58,908/yr
Wilmington
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
19% lower
482.8 vs 596.4 per 100k
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$269k less
$318,600 vs $587,200
Wilmington
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.9% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
17.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 72.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oxnard, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $587,200⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,907⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,409 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oxnard | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 72.9°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.9" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,279 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.6% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oxnard's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories. Oxnard wins 9 and Wilmington 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($587,200 vs $318,600 median home), income ($90,409 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oxnard, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,345 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.