Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 13 of 23 categories
Lawrence
Kansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
95,103
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
13
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.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $467k less ($247,300 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $904/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,942)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $36,202/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Households earn $36,202 more per year on average
23% less violent crime than Lawrence
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Lawrence
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$467k less
$247,300 vs $714,000
Lawrence
Summer Heat
15.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$36,202
$96,036 vs $59,834/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent Crime
23% lower
354.5 vs 461.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 40.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 91.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 110,358 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 13 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 10 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 13. 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 Lawrence to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $714,000 median home), income ($59,834 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 1,365 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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