Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oakland, CA
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 16 of 22 categories
Oakland
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Oakland, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Rent averages $93/mo less ($1,849 vs $1,942)
Cons
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (7230.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
82% less violent crime than Oakland
Homes cost $170k less ($714,000 vs $883,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.9%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 60°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$1,647
$96,036 vs $94,389/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent Crime
82% lower
354.5 vs 1925.3 per 100k
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Home Value
$170k less
$714,000 vs $883,800
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oakland, CA | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,800⚠ High | $714,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,849⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,389 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.5 min⚠ High | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 507⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 344⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 40.1% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oakland Unified | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.5" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 437,825 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oakland's cost of living index is 118.2 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
San Buenaventura (Ventura) is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 16 of 22 categories. Oakland wins 6 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 16. 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 Oakland to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,800 vs $714,000 median home), income ($94,389 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oakland, CA and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 293 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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