Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chula Vista, CA
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 Chula Vista leads 12 of 22 categories
Chula Vista
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,984 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
276,103 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,036
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.
Chula Vista, CA
Pros
Homes cost $67k less ($647,100 vs $714,000)
Households earn $5,948 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 22.0:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.8% vs 4.9%)
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $2,035/mo
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (4.9%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $93/mo less ($1,942 vs $2,035)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Median income trails Chula Vista by $5,948/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Chula Vista
Key Differences at a Glance
Chula Vista
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Chula Vista
Median Income
$5,948
$101,984 vs $96,036/yr
Chula Vista
Median Home Value
$67k less
$647,100 vs $714,000
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent Crime
6% lower
354.5 vs 375.8 per 100k
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
4.9% vs 8.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chula Vista, CA | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $647,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,035⚠ High | $1,942⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,984 ✓ Higher | $96,036 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.8%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 40.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.3% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chula Vista Elementary | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 65.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.6°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,103 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chula Vista's cost of living index is 111.5 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Chula Vista is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chula Vista leads 12 of 22 categories. Chula Vista wins 12 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 10. 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 Chula Vista to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($647,100 vs $714,000 median home), income ($101,984 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chula Vista, CA and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 172 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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