Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mission Viejo, CA
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 16 of 22 categories
Mission Viejo
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
72% less violent crime than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Households earn $40,534 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Rent averages $680/mo less ($1,942 vs $2,622)
Homes cost $170k less ($714,000 vs $883,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 80°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $40,534/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$40,534
$136,570 vs $96,036/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
72% lower
99.2 vs 354.5 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 4.9% unemployment
Mission Viejo
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 79.5°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 Home Value
$170k less
$714,000 vs $883,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mission Viejo, 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 | $883,600⚠ High | $714,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,622⚠ High | $1,942⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,570 ✓ Higher | $96,036 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.4% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 38 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 26 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 40.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 91.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saddleback Valley Unified | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 65.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 79.5°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,233 | 110,358 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 41.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 22.1% ✓ More | 18.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mission Viejo'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, Mission Viejo leads 16 of 22 categories. Mission Viejo wins 16 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 6. 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 Mission Viejo to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,600 vs $714,000 median home), income ($136,570 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mission Viejo, CA and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 102 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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