Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 15 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
15
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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $484k less ($230,500 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $876/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,942)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $38,333/yr
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Households earn $38,333 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 51°F
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Chattanooga
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$484k less
$230,500 vs $714,000
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
17.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$38,333
$96,036 vs $57,703/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent Crime
57% lower
354.5 vs 823.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 40.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 15 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 7 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 15. 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 Chattanooga to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $714,000 median home), income ($57,703 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 1,924 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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