Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,036
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
110,358
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
38% less violent crime than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.2%)
Households earn $17,143 more per year on average
Homes cost $58k less ($655,700 vs $714,000)
Cons
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $17,143/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher unemployment (4.9% vs 3.2%)
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Alexandria
Median Income
$17,143
$113,179 vs $96,036/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
38% lower
219.1 vs 354.5 per 100k
Alexandria
Median Home Value
$58k less
$655,700 vs $714,000
Alexandria
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.9% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
16.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 72.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,942⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $96,036 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 40.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 91.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Alexandria is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 13 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 10. 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 Alexandria to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $714,000 median home), income ($113,179 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 2,341 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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