01 · the cities
Oxnard
Oxnard is California's strawberry capital, where the fields literally run up to the beach. Channel Islands Harbor is a quiet alternative to the busier Ventura and Santa Barbara, with great seafood and a chill Mexican food scene. The weather is the perfect 65-and-overcast that locals call 'June gloom' for most of summer. The Channel Islands themselves are a ferry ride away.
full dispatch→Wilmington
Wilmington has been called 'Hollywood East' for the volume of film and TV produced here (Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, and dozens of features). The historic riverfront on the Cape Fear is genuinely charming, and Wrightsville Beach is 15 minutes away. The food scene punches above its weight, especially seafood. UNCW keeps it youthful. A coastal city with both beach and downtown charm.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,995/mo
$1,675/mo
$1,320/mo less than Oxnard (79%)
Median home price
Median home price
$923k
$448k
$475k less than Oxnard
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
4.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,563/mo
$6,283/mo
Wilmington has $1,720/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
342 days
235 days
107 fewer than Oxnard
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
1 days
days below 20°F per year
Oxnard edges ahead on pleasant days, but both cities have comparable comfort overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
74 / 100
54 / 100
20.0 pts behind Oxnard
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
0 routes
5 routes
5 more direct routes than Oxnard
Metro size
Metro size
830k metro
467k metro
Oxnard has 1.2x more events per month than Wilmington.
the verdict
2
Oxnard
categories won
5
Wilmington
categories won
Wilmington wins on money. Oxnard has the edge on weather.
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