City comparison
No. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Oakland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,979 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
Safety is where Oakland and Anaheim split most clearly. Anaheim scores 291 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,979 in Oakland and $2,175 in Anaheim.
This is a genuine split. Oakland wins on cost of living and the job market and Anaheim wins on safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Anaheim has rougher pockets and Oakland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oakland and Anaheim are 367 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $196 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $95,227 in Anaheim, down $6,373 (6%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 143 in Anaheim, down 291 points (67%).
The move
Anaheim and Oakland are 367 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,979 a month in Oakland, down $196 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $101,600 in Oakland, up $6,373 (7%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 434 in Oakland, up 291 points (203%).
Oakland, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Oakland and Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Oakland rent is 9% cheaper than Anaheim
Oakland
Winner$1,979/mo
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Typical rent runs $1,979 a month in Oakland versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Oakland is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $196, or $2,352 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Oakland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Oakland's median income is 7% higher than Anaheim
Oakland
Winner$101,600
Anaheim
$95,227
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $95,227 in Anaheim, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Oakland (about $6,373 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
67% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 67% lower than Oakland
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 67% lower in Anaheim. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Anaheim is the easier city. Oakland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Oakland and Anaheim are about even on typical weather.
Oakland
68°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Anaheim
78°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oakland averages about 68°F (81°F highs); Anaheim averages about 78°F (85°F highs). Oakland sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anaheim sits near 78°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Oakland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% cheaper here at about $1,979 a month. Choose Oakland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Oakland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 7% higher here ($101,600). Start with Oakland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Anaheim is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 67% lower than Oakland (143 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Oakland carries the heavier crime signal on this page (15/100 safety vs 49/100 in Anaheim). That 34-point spread matters more than the $196 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
With only $196 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,979 in Oakland and $2,175 in Anaheim.
Anaheim clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Oakland deserves a serious look only when you already know the Oakland block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Oakland when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oakland and Anaheim, plus other cities in CA.
