Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oxnard, CA
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 17 of 22 categories
Oxnard
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
202,279 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,097 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 107°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 20% higher than Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $401k less ($186,500 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $879/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,907)
29% less violent crime than Oxnard
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $31,097/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.9%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Oxnard
Median Income
$31,097
$90,409 vs $59,312/yr
Oxnard
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Violent Crime
29% lower
423.6 vs 596.4 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$401k less
$186,500 vs $587,200
Yuma
Summer Heat
33.8°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 72.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oxnard, CA | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $587,200⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,907⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,409 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | C- (70) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 83.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oxnard | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.9°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 72.9°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.9" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,279 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 33.5 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.6% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oxnard's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yuma leads 17 of 22 categories. Oxnard wins 5 and Yuma wins 17. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($587,200 vs $186,500 median home), income ($90,409 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oxnard, CA and Yuma, AZ are about 294 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.