Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oxnard, CA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Yakima leads 15 of 23 categories
Oxnard
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
202,279 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,675 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 40°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $344k less ($243,300 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $893/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,907)
9% less violent crime than Oxnard
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $34,675/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Oxnard
Median Income
$34,675
$90,409 vs $55,734/yr
Oxnard
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Violent Crime
9% lower
544.3 vs 596.4 per 100k
Yakima
Median Home Value
$344k less
$243,300 vs $587,200
Yakima
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 72.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oxnard, CA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $587,200⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,907⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,409 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | C (79) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 19.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 77.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oxnard | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 72.9°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.9" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,279 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.6% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oxnard's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yakima leads 15 of 23 categories. Oxnard wins 8 and Yakima 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($587,200 vs $243,300 median home), income ($90,409 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oxnard, CA and Yakima, WA are about 859 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.