Midland TX 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)

Midland, TX

Texas · Population: N/A

  • Median HH IncomeN/A
  • Median Home Price$330,788
  • UnemploymentN/A
  • Bachelor's+N/A

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
Midland
N/A
Oceanside
172,542
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Midland
N/A
Oceanside
N/A
Median Age
Midland
N/A
Oceanside
38.1
Foreign Born
Midland
N/A
Oceanside
20.9%
White
Midland
N/A
Oceanside
52.9%
Black
Midland
N/A
Oceanside
4.2%
Asian
Midland
N/A
Oceanside
7.4%
Hispanic
Midland
N/A
Oceanside
38.5%
Spanish at Home
Midland
N/A
Oceanside
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Midland
N/A
Oceanside
$93,724
Per Capita Income
Midland
N/A
Oceanside
$43,094
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Midland
$63,758
Oceanside
$77,230
Oceanside +
Unemployment Rate
Midland
N/A
Oceanside
5.4%
Poverty Rate
Midland
N/A
Oceanside
8.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
Midland
N/A
Oceanside
34.3%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Midland
$330,788
Midland +
Oceanside
$877,452
Homeownership Rate
Midland
N/A
Oceanside
58.5%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Midland
442
Midland +
Oceanside
503
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Midland
2339
Midland +
Oceanside
2388

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Midland
36.0%
Oceanside
26.1%
Oceanside +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Midland
11.3%
Oceanside
10.4%
Oceanside +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Midland
17.6%
Oceanside
16.9%
Oceanside +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Midland
19.6%
Oceanside
9.7%
Oceanside +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Midland
18.8%
Oceanside
16.5%
Oceanside +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Midland
12.5%
Oceanside
10.6%
Oceanside +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Midland
65.6°F
Oceanside
55.3°F
Oceanside +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Midland
14.8 in
Midland +
Oceanside
20.7 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Midland
9.2 µg/m³
Oceanside
7.9 µg/m³
Oceanside +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Midland
55.0%
Oceanside
75.0%
Oceanside +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Midland
N/A
Oceanside
31.8 min

Which City is Right for You?

Midland offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $330,788. On public safety, Midland is safer with a violent crime rate of 442 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Oceanside. 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 Midland & Oceanside