Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 Germantown leads 11 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,036
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
110,358 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Homes cost $320k less ($393,700 vs $714,000)
Households earn $13,232 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Median income trails Germantown by $13,232/yr
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Germantown
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Germantown
Median Income
$13,232
$109,268 vs $96,036/yr
Germantown
Median Home Value
$320k less
$393,700 vs $714,000
Germantown
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 84.3°F vs 72.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $96,036 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 104⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 40.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 110,358 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Germantown is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Germantown leads 11 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 11 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 9. 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 Germantown to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $714,000 median home), income ($109,268 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 2,329 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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