Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 13 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,036 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
110,358
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $552k less ($161,800 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $882/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,942)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $36,782/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Households earn $36,782 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than Abilene
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Abilene
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$552k less
$161,800 vs $714,000
Abilene
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.9% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
23.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$36,782
$96,036 vs $59,254/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent Crime
16% lower
354.5 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 40.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 13 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 10 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $714,000 median home), income ($59,254 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 1,131 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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