Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 Norman leads 12 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
11
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.
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $489k less ($224,900 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $938/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,942)
27% less violent crime than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $33,187/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.9%)
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Households earn $33,187 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Norman
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Violent Crime
27% lower
260.2 vs 354.5 per 100k
Norman
Median Home Value
$489k less
$224,900 vs $714,000
Norman
Summer Heat
19.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$33,187
$96,036 vs $62,849/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | 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 | $224,900 ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 40.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 91.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Norman is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 12 of 23 categories. Norman 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 Norman to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $714,000 median home), income ($62,849 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 1,243 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.