Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 13 of 22 categories
Riverside
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
13
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.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($485,500 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $231/mo less ($1,711 vs $1,942)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Cons
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $12,588/yr
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.9%)
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
40% less violent crime than Riverside
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.9%)
Households earn $12,588 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Riverside
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Median Home Value
$229k less
$485,500 vs $714,000
Riverside
Summer Heat
22.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$12,588
$96,036 vs $83,448/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent Crime
40% lower
354.5 vs 589.7 per 100k
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 40.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 65.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 13 of 22 categories. Riverside wins 9 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 13. 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 Riverside to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $714,000 median home), income ($83,448 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 109 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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