Oxnard CA vs Tempe AZ — 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%

Tempe, AZ

Arizona · Population: 186,419

  • Median HH Income$77,643
  • Median Home Price$468,328
  • Unemployment5.7%
  • Bachelor's+49.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Oxnard
201,014
Oxnard +
Tempe
186,419
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Oxnard
N/A
Tempe
N/A
Median Age
Oxnard
34.0
Tempe
29.9
Tempe +
Foreign Born
Oxnard
33.8%
Oxnard +
Tempe
13.9%
White
Oxnard
36.9%
Tempe
60.1%
Tempe +
Black
Oxnard
1.8%
Tempe
7.8%
Tempe +
Asian
Oxnard
6.6%
Tempe
9.5%
Tempe +
Hispanic
Oxnard
77.0%
Oxnard +
Tempe
23.1%
Spanish at Home
Oxnard
N/A
Tempe
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Oxnard
$93,372
Oxnard +
Tempe
$77,643
Per Capita Income
Oxnard
$30,413
Tempe
$42,371
Tempe +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Oxnard
$77,230
Oxnard +
Tempe
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
Oxnard
6.6%
Tempe
5.7%
Tempe +
Poverty Rate
Oxnard
10.8%
Oxnard +
Tempe
16.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
Oxnard
19.6%
Tempe
49.5%
Tempe +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Oxnard
$765,773
Tempe
$468,328
Tempe +
Homeownership Rate
Oxnard
53.9%
Oxnard +
Tempe
41.6%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Oxnard
503
Tempe
450
Tempe +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Oxnard
2388
Tempe
2150
Tempe +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Oxnard
28.4%
Tempe
27.2%
Tempe +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Oxnard
12.8%
Tempe
7.2%
Tempe +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Oxnard
17.9%
Tempe
16.6%
Tempe +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Oxnard
19.2%
Tempe
10.7%
Tempe +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Oxnard
15.6%
Oxnard +
Tempe
18.3%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Oxnard
12.0%
Tempe
9.1%
Tempe +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Oxnard
61.2°F
Oxnard +
Tempe
71.3°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Oxnard
15.3 in
Tempe
9.3 in
Tempe +

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Oxnard
27.1 min
Tempe
23.2 min
Tempe +

Which City is Right for You?

Oxnard leads in median household income at $93,372, while tempe offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $468,328. On public safety, Tempe is safer with a violent crime rate of 450 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Oxnard. Tempe has a lower unemployment rate at 5.7%, and Tempe has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Tempe scores better with a lower obesity rate of 27.2%.

Compare More Cities

About Oxnard & Tempe