Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 12 of 22 categories
Costa Mesa
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Households earn $8,945 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
52% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Homes cost $246k less ($714,000 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $326/mo less ($1,942 vs $2,268)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 79°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $8,945/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$8,945
$104,981 vs $96,036/yr
Costa Mesa
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 78.9°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent Crime
52% lower
354.5 vs 737.6 per 100k
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Home Value
$246k less
$714,000 vs $959,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $714,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,942⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $96,036 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 40.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 65.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
San Buenaventura (Ventura) is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 12 of 22 categories. Costa Mesa wins 10 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 12. 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 Costa Mesa to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $714,000 median home), income ($104,981 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 87 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.