Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 Arvada leads 15 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
8
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
19% less violent crime than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Homes cost $161k less ($553,000 vs $714,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.8%)
Rent averages $236/mo less ($1,706 vs $1,942)
Households earn $9,978 more per year on average
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Higher unemployment (4.9% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Arvada
Median Income
$9,978
$106,014 vs $96,036/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
19% lower
285.6 vs 354.5 per 100k
Arvada
Median Home Value
$161k less
$553,000 vs $714,000
Arvada
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.9% unemployment
Arvada
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 72.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $96,036 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 40.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 91.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 40.2 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Arvada is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 15 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 15 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 8. 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 Arvada to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $714,000 median home), income ($106,014 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 866 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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