Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Glendale
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Glendale, CA
Pros
19% less violent crime than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $14,817/yr
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 4.9%)
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Homes cost $278k less ($714,000 vs $992,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.9%)
Households earn $14,817 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 86°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Violent Crime
19% lower
287.2 vs 354.5 per 100k
Glendale
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 85.8°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)
Median Income
$14,817
$96,036 vs $81,219/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Home Value
$278k less
$714,000 vs $992,000
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.9% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, 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 | $992,000⚠ High | $714,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,942⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 40.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 65.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 41.1 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 18.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale'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, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Glendale wins 11 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 11. 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 Glendale to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $714,000 median home), income ($81,219 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 58 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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