Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oxnard, CA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 13 of 23 categories
Oxnard
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
202,279
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
249,571 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,993 more per year on average
26% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 88°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 Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $400k less ($187,400 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $951/mo less ($956 vs $1,907)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $35,993/yr
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Oxnard
Median Income
$35,993
$90,409 vs $54,416/yr
Oxnard
Violent Crime
26% lower
596.4 vs 809.7 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$400k less
$187,400 vs $587,200
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
15.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 72.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oxnard, CA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $587,200⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,907⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,409 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| 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+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oxnard | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 72.9°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.9" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,279 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.6% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oxnard's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 13 of 23 categories. Oxnard wins 10 and Winston-Salem wins 13. 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 Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($587,200 vs $187,400 median home), income ($90,409 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oxnard, CA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 2,189 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.