Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 13 of 22 categories
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$96,036 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
110,358
Santa Ana
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
28% less violent crime than Santa Ana
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.9%)
Households earn $11,826 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 83°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Homes cost $90k less ($624,000 vs $714,000)
Smaller class sizes — 20.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $11,826/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$11,826
$96,036 vs $84,210/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent Crime
28% lower
354.5 vs 493.1 per 100k
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.5% unemployment
Santa Ana
Median Home Value
$90k less
$624,000 vs $714,000
Santa Ana
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 72.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $714,000⚠ High | $624,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,942⚠ High | $1,885⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $96,036 ✓ Higher | $84,210 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.2% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.1% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ventura Unified | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.9°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 72.9°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 110,358 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.1% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s cost of living index is 113.5 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
San Buenaventura (Ventura) is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 13 of 22 categories. San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 13 and Santa Ana wins 9. 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 San Buenaventura (Ventura) to Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($714,000 vs $624,000 median home), income ($96,036 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA and Santa Ana, CA are about 87 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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