Oxnard CA vs Tacoma WA — 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%

Tacoma, WA

Washington · Population: 220,482

  • Median HH Income$83,857
  • Median Home Price$496,966
  • Unemployment5.3%
  • Bachelor's+33.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Oxnard
201,014
Tacoma
220,482
Tacoma +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Oxnard
N/A
Tacoma
N/A
Median Age
Oxnard
34.0
Oxnard +
Tacoma
37.3
Foreign Born
Oxnard
33.8%
Oxnard +
Tacoma
12.2%
White
Oxnard
36.9%
Tacoma
59.4%
Tacoma +
Black
Oxnard
1.8%
Tacoma
10.5%
Tacoma +
Asian
Oxnard
6.6%
Tacoma
8.8%
Tacoma +
Hispanic
Oxnard
77.0%
Oxnard +
Tacoma
13.1%
Spanish at Home
Oxnard
N/A
Tacoma
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Oxnard
$93,372
Oxnard +
Tacoma
$83,857
Per Capita Income
Oxnard
$30,413
Tacoma
$44,756
Tacoma +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Oxnard
$77,230
Oxnard +
Tacoma
$76,120
Unemployment Rate
Oxnard
6.6%
Tacoma
5.3%
Tacoma +
Poverty Rate
Oxnard
10.8%
Oxnard +
Tacoma
12.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
Oxnard
19.6%
Tacoma
33.5%
Tacoma +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Oxnard
$765,773
Tacoma
$496,966
Tacoma +
Homeownership Rate
Oxnard
53.9%
Tacoma
56.5%
Tacoma +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Oxnard
503
Tacoma
383
Tacoma +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Oxnard
2388
Oxnard +
Tacoma
3409

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Oxnard
28.4%
Oxnard +
Tacoma
37.3%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Oxnard
12.8%
Tacoma
10.9%
Tacoma +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Oxnard
17.9%
Oxnard +
Tacoma
18.7%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Oxnard
19.2%
Tacoma
9.3%
Tacoma +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Oxnard
15.6%
Oxnard +
Tacoma
16.8%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Oxnard
12.0%
Tacoma
11.9%
Tacoma +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Oxnard
61.2°F
Tacoma
53.5°F
Tacoma +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Oxnard
15.3 in
Oxnard +
Tacoma
39.2 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Oxnard
27.1 min
Oxnard +
Tacoma
31.1 min

Which City is Right for You?

Oxnard leads in median household income at $93,372, while tacoma offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $496,966. On public safety, Tacoma is safer with a violent crime rate of 383 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Oxnard. Tacoma has a lower unemployment rate at 5.3%, and Tacoma has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.5 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Oxnard scores better with a lower obesity rate of 28.4%.

Compare More Cities

About Oxnard & Tacoma