Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 13 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ 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.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $541k less ($172,700 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $945/mo less ($997 vs $1,942)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $35,408/yr
Violent crime (690.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Households earn $35,408 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Amarillo
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Amarillo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$541k less
$172,700 vs $714,000
Amarillo
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.9% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
19.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$35,408
$96,036 vs $60,628/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent Crime
49% lower
354.5 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 40.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 13 of 23 categories. Amarillo 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 Amarillo to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $714,000 median home), income ($60,628 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 990 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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