City Comparison
Long Beach vs Oxnard
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Long Beach scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Long Beach
Oxnard
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Long Beach is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
4% lower than in Oxnard.
Housing costs are a major driver: Long Beach's average rent is
14% lower than Oxnard's.
| Metric | Long Beach | Oxnard | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,900 | $2,198 | -14% |
| Groceries | $460 | $400 | +15% |
| Utilities | $210 | $130 | +62% |
| Transport | $130 | $120 | +8% |
| Healthcare | $270 | $250 | +8% |
| Monthly Total | $2,970 | $3,098 | -4% |
| Cost Index | 142 | 132 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Long Beach offers 37% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Long Beach delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Long Beach is estimated at
$68,000 vs $55,000 in Oxnard.
| Metric | Long Beach | Oxnard |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $89,000 | $65,000 |
| Salary Needed | $68,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 62,676 idx | 49,242 idx |
| Household Income | $87,430 | $96,212 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 3.1°F of each other.
| Metric | Long Beach | Oxnard |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 63.70°F | 60.60°F |
| Summer High | 76.80°F | 71.70°F |
| Winter Low | 49.50°F | 48.30°F |
| Rainfall | 19.30 in | 22.10 in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 328 | 325 |
| Humidity | 64.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Oxnard has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Long Beach.
Long Beach scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Long Beach leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Long Beach | Oxnard |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 30 min | 25 min |
| Transit Score | 58.0/100 | 20.0/100 |
| Walkability | 68.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 56.00 | 55.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Long Beach is the larger city
— approximately 2.3x the population of Oxnard.
From a growth perspective, Long Beach 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 | Long Beach | Oxnard |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 450,469 | 199,197 |
| Pop. Growth | — | — |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 34.4 |
| Unemployment | 5.10% | 4.70% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Long Beach
Advantages
Median household income stands at $87,430, supporting a stable local purchasing power relative to state baselines.
Exceptional climate featuring 328 sunny days annually, ideal for outdoor recreation and coastal activities.
World-class higher education infrastructure anchored by California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and Long Beach City College.
Extensive pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, making core districts like Belmont Shore and Downtown highly walkable and bike-friendly.
Diverse and thriving economy driven by international trade at the Port of Long Beach, aerospace, and robust healthcare sectors.
Drawbacks
High cost of living and steep housing prices, with average rents exceeding national medians.
Traffic congestion along major regional arteries and freeways, particularly related to port freight and commuter transit.
Property crime rates in certain central and urban corridors remain higher than the national average.
State energy taxes and utility costs run noticeably higher than the U.S. average.
Poverty rate sits near 14.3%, indicating income inequality across specific neighborhood pockets.
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.
Long Beach
#579California, USA
45.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,900
Avg Salary
$89,000
Cost Index
142
Commute
30 min
Transit Score
58.0/100
Walkability
68.0/100
Sunny Days
328/yr
Avg Temp
63.70°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
5.10%
Livability
78
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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