Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
7
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.
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $445k less ($268,800 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $724/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,942)
57% less violent crime than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $12,063/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 23°F
Households earn $12,063 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 80°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Rochester
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
57% lower
154.0 vs 354.5 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$445k less
$268,800 vs $714,000
Rochester
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.9% unemployment
Rochester
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$12,063
$96,036 vs $83,973/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 40.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 91.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 15 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 7. 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 Rochester to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $714,000 median home), income ($83,973 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 1,576 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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