Imperial Beach, CA vs Oceanside, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Imperial Beach
62.9
#1815 nationally
Oceanside
60
#1941 nationally
Imperial Beach leads in walk score (69 vs 39). Oceanside leads in crime level (12.6 vs 14.8). Oceanside leads in median household income ($86,701 vs $75,731).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Imperial Beach, CA | Oceanside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 62.9 (#1815) | 60 (#1941) |
| Population | 25,458 | 170,020 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $844,131 | $874,097 |
| Median Household Income | $75,731 | $86,701 |
| Average Commute | 27.2 min | 29.8 min |
| Walk Score | 69 | 39 |
| Crime Level | 14.8 | 12.6 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 167 | 161 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+16.8 | D+16.8 |
D-
62.9 Score
Imperial Beach, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$844,131
Population
25,458
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
69
Pacific
View Imperial Beach, CA →
D-
60 Score
Oceanside, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$874,097
Population
170,020
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
39
Pacific
View Oceanside, CA →
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