Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 14 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,036 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
110,358 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $613k less ($101,500 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $1133/mo less ($809 vs $1,942)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $52,901/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.9%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Households earn $52,901 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 81°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Erie
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$613k less
$101,500 vs $714,000
Erie
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 81.1°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$52,901
$96,036 vs $43,135/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent Crime
6% lower
354.5 vs 375.6 per 100k
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 40.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 110,358 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 14 of 23 categories. Erie wins 9 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 14. 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 Erie to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $714,000 median home), income ($43,135 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 2,175 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.