Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 El Paso leads 13 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,036 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
110,358
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $555k less ($159,300 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $966/mo less ($976 vs $1,942)
21% less violent crime than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $40,326/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.9%)
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Households earn $40,326 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 96°F
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than El Paso
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
21% lower
278.4 vs 354.5 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$555k less
$159,300 vs $714,000
El Paso
Summer Heat
22.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$40,326
$96,036 vs $55,710/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 40.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 13 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 13 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 El Paso to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $714,000 median home), income ($55,710 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 761 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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