San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont vs Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
Which is the better fit for you?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,645,029 | 837,469 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $136,027 | $109,797 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $74,352 | $49,748 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,881/sq mi | 455/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $1,140,700 | $822,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,474 | $2,317 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 55.5% | 64.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.4% | -2.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.9% | 36.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 9.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 8,350 | 1,488 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.8 | 1.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 29.7% | -11.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 72°F | 78°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 42°F | 45°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 18.7" | 12.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 38 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 33.7 min | 27.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.3 | 39.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, earthquake, inland flooding.
Your best match
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Full profiles: San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA Metro Area · Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology