Hampton VA vs Oceanside CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Hampton, VA

Virginia · Population: 137,334

  • Median HH Income$67,758
  • Median Home Price$278,048
  • Unemployment6.3%
  • Bachelor's+27.5%

Oceanside, CA

California · Population: 172,542

  • Median HH Income$93,724
  • Median Home Price$877,452
  • Unemployment5.4%
  • Bachelor's+34.3%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Hampton
137,334
Oceanside
172,542
Oceanside +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Hampton
N/A
Oceanside
N/A
Median Age
Hampton
36.5
Hampton +
Oceanside
38.1
Foreign Born
Hampton
5.2%
Oceanside
20.9%
Oceanside +
White
Hampton
37.5%
Oceanside
52.9%
Oceanside +
Black
Hampton
49.0%
Hampton +
Oceanside
4.2%
Asian
Hampton
2.2%
Oceanside
7.4%
Oceanside +
Hispanic
Hampton
6.6%
Oceanside
38.5%
Oceanside +
Spanish at Home
Hampton
N/A
Oceanside
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Hampton
$67,758
Oceanside
$93,724
Oceanside +
Per Capita Income
Hampton
$36,787
Oceanside
$43,094
Oceanside +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Hampton
$69,581
Oceanside
$77,230
Oceanside +
Unemployment Rate
Hampton
6.3%
Oceanside
5.4%
Oceanside +
Poverty Rate
Hampton
13.0%
Oceanside
8.1%
Oceanside +
Bachelor's Degree+
Hampton
27.5%
Oceanside
34.3%
Oceanside +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Hampton
$278,048
Hampton +
Oceanside
$877,452
Homeownership Rate
Hampton
55.6%
Oceanside
58.5%
Oceanside +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Hampton
240
Hampton +
Oceanside
503
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Hampton
1726
Hampton +
Oceanside
2388

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Hampton
40.1%
Oceanside
26.1%
Oceanside +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Hampton
15.0%
Oceanside
10.4%
Oceanside +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Hampton
18.4%
Oceanside
16.9%
Oceanside +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Hampton
9.5%
Hampton +
Oceanside
9.7%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Hampton
13.1%
Hampton +
Oceanside
16.5%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Hampton
14.3%
Oceanside
10.6%
Oceanside +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Hampton
61.9°F
Oceanside
55.3°F
Oceanside +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Hampton
N/A
Oceanside
20.7 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Hampton
8.2 µg/m³
Oceanside
7.9 µg/m³
Oceanside +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Hampton
75.0%
Oceanside
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Hampton
24.0 min
Hampton +
Oceanside
31.8 min

Which City is Right for You?

Oceanside leads in median household income at $93,724, while hampton offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $278,048. On public safety, Hampton is safer with a violent crime rate of 240 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Oceanside. Oceanside has a lower unemployment rate at 5.4%, and Oceanside has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Oceanside scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.1%.

Compare More Cities

About Hampton & Oceanside