Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 12 of 23 categories
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
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.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $542k less ($171,800 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $789/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,942)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $35,849/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.9%)
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Households earn $35,849 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 37°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Pittsburgh
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$542k less
$171,800 vs $714,000
Pittsburgh
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.0°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$35,849
$96,036 vs $60,187/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent Crime
17% lower
354.5 vs 427.2 per 100k
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% ✓ Higher | 40.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 91.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 12 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh wins 11 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 12. 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 Pittsburgh to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $714,000 median home), income ($60,187 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 2,181 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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