City Comparison
Sacramento vs Oxnard
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Sacramento scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Sacramento
Oxnard
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Sacramento is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
8% lower than in Oxnard.
Housing costs are a major driver: Sacramento's average rent is
11% lower than Oxnard's.
| Metric | Sacramento | Oxnard | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,946 | $2,198 | -11% |
| Groceries | $400 | $400 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $130 | +38% |
| Transport | $90 | $120 | -25% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $250 | -8% |
| Monthly Total | $2,846 | $3,098 | -8% |
| Cost Index | 112 | 132 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Sacramento offers 18% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Sacramento delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Sacramento is estimated at
$65,000 vs $55,000 in Oxnard.
| Metric | Sacramento | Oxnard |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $77,000 | $65,000 |
| Salary Needed | $65,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 68,750 idx | 49,242 idx |
| Household Income | $91,387 | $96,212 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Oxnard runs warmer on average — a 60.6°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Oxnard comes out ahead with 325 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Oxnard sees 0 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Sacramento | Oxnard |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | 60.60°F |
| Summer High | °F | 71.70°F |
| Winter Low | °F | 48.30°F |
| Rainfall | in | 22.10 in |
| Snowfall | in | 0.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 325 | |
| Humidity | 55.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Sacramento scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Sacramento leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Sacramento | Oxnard |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 27 min | 25 min |
| Transit Score | 55.0/100 | 20.0/100 |
| Walkability | 47.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 47.00 | 55.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Sacramento is the larger city
— approximately 2.7x the population of Oxnard.
From a growth perspective, Sacramento is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Oxnard has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Sacramento | Oxnard |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 536,449 | 199,197 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.53% | — |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 34.4 |
| Unemployment | 5.00% | 4.70% |
| GDP | $135.5B | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Sacramento
Advantages
Median home prices and rental rates remain significantly more affordable than coastal California hubs like San Francisco and San Jose.
Thriving farm-to-fork culinary scene with nationally acclaimed local restaurants and frequent community farmers' markets.
Extensive outdoor recreation access via the 32-mile American River Parkway and close proximity to Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada.
Stable, recession-resilient job market anchored by California state government administration and major healthcare systems.
Abundant sunshine and a Mediterranean climate averaging over 260 sunny days per year.
Drawbacks
Summer temperatures frequently exceed 95°F to 100°F, creating high cooling demands and seasonal heat advisories.
Property crime rates and urban homelessness present ongoing challenges in select downtown and inner-city commercial corridors.
Public transit infrastructure is limited outside of central urban grids, making outer neighborhoods heavily car-dependent.
State income tax rates align with California's top-tier state brackets, impacting high-earning households.
Vulnerability to seasonal wildfire smoke from surrounding foothills during dry summer and autumn months.
Oxnard
Advantages
Mild Mediterranean climate with 325 sunny days annually.
Coastal location offering access to beaches and recreational activities.
Significant agricultural and manufacturing economic base.
More affordable housing compared to other major California coastal cities.
Diverse cultural landscape influenced by a large Hispanic and Latino population.
Drawbacks
Higher than national average crime rates, particularly for violent crime.
Cost of living is 32% higher than the U.S. national average, driven by housing costs.
Public transportation is limited, and car dependency is high.
Median home values are significantly above the national average.
Unemployment rate is higher than the national average of 4.198%.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Sacramento
#542California, USA
49.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,946
Avg Salary
$77,000
Cost Index
112
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
47.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.53%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
76
Business
72
Oxnard
#598California, USA
41.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,198
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
132
Commute
25 min
Transit Score
20.0/100
Walkability
30.0/100
Sunny Days
325/yr
Avg Temp
60.60°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.70%
Livability
70
Business
70
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