Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 14 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
14
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.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $603k less ($111,400 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $947/mo less ($995 vs $1,942)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $51,880/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 4.9%)
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Households earn $51,880 more per year on average
39% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 16% higher than Rochester
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$603k less
$111,400 vs $714,000
Rochester
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$51,880
$96,036 vs $44,156/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent Crime
39% lower
354.5 vs 582.3 per 100k
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.9% vs 8.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 40.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 14 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 9 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 14. 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 ($111,400 vs $714,000 median home), income ($44,156 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 2,302 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Rochester, NY vs Yonkers, NY
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA vs Oxnard, CA
Rochester, NY vs Syracuse, NY
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA vs Temecula, CA
Rochester, NY vs Buffalo, NY
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA vs Santa Maria, CA
Rochester, NY vs Albany, NY
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA vs Costa Mesa, CA