Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Brownsville
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999 ✓ 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.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $601k less ($112,600 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $1070/mo less ($872 vs $1,942)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $49,301/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.9%)
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Households earn $49,301 more per year on average
22% less violent crime than Brownsville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.9%)
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Brownsville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$601k less
$112,600 vs $714,000
Brownsville
Summer Heat
19.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$49,301
$96,036 vs $46,735/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent Crime
22% lower
354.5 vs 456.0 per 100k
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 40.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 65.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Brownsville 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 Brownsville to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $714,000 median home), income ($46,735 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 1,419 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Brownsville, TX vs McKinney, TX
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA vs Oxnard, CA
Brownsville, TX vs Grand Prairie, TX
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA vs Temecula, CA
Brownsville, TX vs Amarillo, TX
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA vs Santa Maria, CA
Brownsville, TX vs Frisco, TX
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA vs Costa Mesa, CA