Oxnard CA vs San Marcos TX — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

Oxnard, CA

California · Population: 201,014

  • Median HH Income$93,372
  • Median Home Price$765,773
  • Unemployment6.6%
  • Bachelor's+19.6%

San Marcos, TX

Texas · Population: 99,507

  • Median HH Income$64,146
  • Median Home Price$313,452
  • Unemployment3.2%
  • Bachelor's+24.9%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Oxnard
201,014
Oxnard +
San Marcos
99,507
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Oxnard
N/A
San Marcos
N/A
Median Age
Oxnard
34.0
Oxnard +
San Marcos
35.2
Foreign Born
Oxnard
33.8%
Oxnard +
San Marcos
5.8%
White
Oxnard
36.9%
San Marcos
66.6%
San Marcos +
Black
Oxnard
1.8%
San Marcos
4.3%
San Marcos +
Asian
Oxnard
6.6%
Oxnard +
San Marcos
1.4%
Hispanic
Oxnard
77.0%
Oxnard +
San Marcos
42.2%
Spanish at Home
Oxnard
N/A
San Marcos
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Oxnard
$93,372
Oxnard +
San Marcos
$64,146
Per Capita Income
Oxnard
$30,413
San Marcos
$33,835
San Marcos +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Oxnard
$77,230
Oxnard +
San Marcos
$63,758
Unemployment Rate
Oxnard
6.6%
San Marcos
3.2%
San Marcos +
Poverty Rate
Oxnard
10.8%
Oxnard +
San Marcos
11.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
Oxnard
19.6%
San Marcos
24.9%
San Marcos +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Oxnard
$765,773
San Marcos
$313,452
San Marcos +
Homeownership Rate
Oxnard
53.9%
San Marcos
63.3%
San Marcos +

Safety

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

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Oxnard
28.4%
Oxnard +
San Marcos
33.6%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Oxnard
12.8%
San Marcos
7.9%
San Marcos +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Oxnard
17.9%
Oxnard +
San Marcos
22.3%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Oxnard
19.2%
Oxnard +
San Marcos
19.7%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Oxnard
15.6%
Oxnard +
San Marcos
19.7%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Oxnard
12.0%
San Marcos
11.0%
San Marcos +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Oxnard
61.2°F
Oxnard +
San Marcos
68.5°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Oxnard
15.3 in
Oxnard +
San Marcos
35.7 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Oxnard
27.1 min
San Marcos
19.0 min
San Marcos +

Which City is Right for You?

Oxnard leads in median household income at $93,372, while san Marcos offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $313,452. On public safety, San Marcos is safer with a violent crime rate of 442 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Oxnard. San Marcos has a lower unemployment rate at 3.2%, and Oxnard has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Oxnard scores better with a lower obesity rate of 28.4%.

Compare More Cities

About Oxnard & San Marcos