Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 Meridian leads 18 of 23 categories
Meridian
Idaho
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
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.
Meridian, ID
Pros
Homes cost $288k less ($425,800 vs $714,000)
59% less violent crime than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Rent averages $394/mo less ($1,548 vs $1,942)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $2,740/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 93°F
Households earn $2,740 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Meridian
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Violent Crime
59% lower
146.8 vs 354.5 per 100k
Meridian
Median Home Value
$288k less
$425,800 vs $714,000
Meridian
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
2.7% vs 4.9% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
19.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$2,740
$96,036 vs $93,296/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 40.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 91.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 18 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 18 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 5. 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 Meridian to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $714,000 median home), income ($93,296 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 663 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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