Oxnard, CA vs Santa Maria, CA

Santa Maria is moderately more affordable than Oxnard, with a 11.2% lower cost of living index. Oxnard scores 150 compared to 135 for Santa Maria, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Oxnard can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Oxnard is $1,962/month compared to $1,842/month in Santa Maria — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Santa Maria is more affordable at $478,200 median vs $617,800.

Median household income in Oxnard is $93,372 compared to $84,617 in Santa Maria (+10.3%). The higher salaries in Oxnard partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Oxnard spend roughly 25.2% of their income on rent, less than the 26.1% in Santa Maria.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (61.2°F vs 58.6°F). Santa Maria receives more rainfall at 13.3" per year compared to 12.9" in Oxnard.