Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 Laredo leads 12 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,036 ✓ Higher
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.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $550k less ($164,400 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $974/mo less ($968 vs $1,942)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $35,108/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.9%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Households earn $35,108 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Laredo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$550k less
$164,400 vs $714,000
Laredo
Summer Heat
27.4°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$35,108
$96,036 vs $60,928/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent Crime
3% lower
354.5 vs 365.8 per 100k
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 40.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 65.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 12 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 12 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 Laredo to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $714,000 median home), income ($60,928 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 1,257 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.