City comparison
No. Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 279 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Oakland and Toledo. Oakland averages 68°F while Toledo averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,979 versus $934.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Toledo costs less and Oakland pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Oakland and Toledo are 2,057 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $934 a month in Toledo, down $1,045 a month (53%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $62,224 in Toledo, down $39,376 (39%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 221 in Toledo, down 213 points (49%).
The move
Toledo and Oakland are 2,057 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $1,045 a month (112%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $101,600 in Oakland, up $39,376 (63%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 434 in Oakland, up 213 points (96%).
Oakland, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Oakland and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
53% cheaper
Toledo rent is 53% cheaper than Oakland
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,979 in Oakland, so Toledo is 53% cheaper. That's roughly $1,045/month back in your pocket ($12,540/year). Over five years that's $62,700 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Oakland, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Toledo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
63% higher
Oakland's median income is 63% higher than Toledo
Oakland
Winner$101,600
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 63% higher in Oakland (about $39,376 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Oakland is the stronger labor market on paper. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
49% lower crime
Toledo's crime index is 49% lower than Oakland
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Toledo
Winner221 (100 = avg)
Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 49% lower in Toledo. 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, Toledo 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
64% more comfortable
Oakland weather is 64% more comfortable than Toledo
Oakland
Winner68°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Oakland averages about 68°F (80°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Oakland sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Oakland scores 64% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Toledo if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 63% higher ($101,600), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 53% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Toledo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 49% lower than Oakland (221 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
On rent alone, Toledo undercuts Oakland by $1,045/month ($934 vs $1,979). I would not pick Oakland on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Toledo rent at $934/month is still below Oakland's $1,979, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $62,224 in Toledo.
Toledo is the default on housing cost at $934/month versus $1,979 in Oakland; Oakland stays in play when $101,600 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $1,045 lease gap.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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