Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rockford, IL
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 15 of 23 categories
Rockford
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
15
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.
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $600k less ($114,100 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $1036/mo less ($906 vs $1,942)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Smaller class sizes — 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $45,292/yr
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 4.9%)
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Households earn $45,292 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (4.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 29°F
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Rockford
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rockford
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$600k less
$114,100 vs $714,000
Rockford
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$45,292
$96,036 vs $50,744/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent Crime
67% lower
354.5 vs 1080.0 per 100k
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
4.9% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rockford, IL | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $114,100 ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $906 ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,744 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 284⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% | 40.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rockford SD 205 | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.1°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.0" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,173 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.1% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.4% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rockford's cost of living index is 90.1 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 15 of 23 categories. Rockford wins 8 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 15. 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 Rockford to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($114,100 vs $714,000 median home), income ($50,744 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rockford, IL and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 1,718 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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