Los Angeles vs Oxnard
Compare Los Angeles, CA and Oxnard, CA on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Los Angeles is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $1,892/mo versus $2,140/mo in Oxnard — a gap of about $248/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $2,544/mo against $2,414/mo. Across the four public-data screens Los Angeles comes out ahead (251 vs 231 summed points), though Oxnard still wins specific categories below.
Climate is a real differentiator: Los Angeles runs summer highs near 91°F and winter lows near 44°F, while Oxnard runs 75°F and 44°F. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Los Angeles; if walkable daily life matters more, Los Angeles screens stronger on the walkability proxy (37 vs 16). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
Los Angeles leads 78 to 72 on the work screen.
Los Angeles leads 71 to 52 on the daily life screen.
Oxnard leads 59 to 54 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Los Angeles is roughly $85,000 in Oxnard using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles | Oxnard | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,892/mo | $2,140/mo | Los Angeles |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $2,544/mo | $2,414/mo | Oxnard |
| Median home value | $772,000 | $719,000 | Oxnard |
| State income tax | 13.3% | 13.3% | Tie |
| Average commute | 33 min | 28.3 min | Oxnard |
| Safety score | 36/100 | 39/100 | Oxnard |
| School score | 5/10 | 6/10 | Oxnard |
| Walkability estimate | 37/100 | 16/100 | Los Angeles |
| Outdoor score | 8/10 | 8/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 222.4 | 184.7 | Los Angeles |
| Mountain distance | 80 mi | 56 mi | Oxnard |
| Coast distance | 10 mi | 4 mi | Oxnard |
What stands out
Los Angeles stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Strong outdoor access
- Trail access within 20 miles
Los Angeles tradeoffs
- Premium housing market
- High top marginal state income tax
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Oxnard stronger signals
- Strong outdoor access
- Trail access within 18 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 72 miles
Oxnard tradeoffs
- Premium housing market
- High top marginal state income tax
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Common questions
Is Los Angeles cheaper than Oxnard?
On public benchmarks Los Angeles is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,892/mo in Los Angeles vs $2,140/mo in Oxnard; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $2,544/mo vs $2,414/mo; state income tax is 13.3% vs 13.3%.
Is Los Angeles or Oxnard safer?
Oxnard screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 36/100 for Los Angeles and 39/100 for Oxnard (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Los Angeles or Oxnard?
School screens show 5/10 for Los Angeles vs 6/10 for Oxnard, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Los Angeles and Oxnard?
Los Angeles: summer highs near 91°F, winter lows near 44°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Oxnard: 75°F / 44°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
Start City Match