Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Austin
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
11
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.
Austin, TX
Pros
Homes cost $253k less ($461,500 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $393/mo less ($1,549 vs $1,942)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $9,480/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
24% less violent crime than Austin
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 97°F
Households earn $9,480 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Austin
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Home Value
$253k less
$461,500 vs $714,000
Austin
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 4.9% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
23.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$9,480
$96,036 vs $86,556/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent Crime
24% lower
354.5 vs 466.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 40.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 91.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Austin is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Austin wins 11 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 11. 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 Austin to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $714,000 median home), income ($86,556 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 1,283 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Austin, TX vs Fort Worth, TX
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA vs Oxnard, CA
Austin, TX vs El Paso, TX
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA vs Temecula, CA
Austin, TX vs Dallas, TX
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA vs Santa Maria, CA
Austin, TX vs San Antonio, TX
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA vs Costa Mesa, CA