Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,036 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
110,358
Santa Rosa
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,604
Violent Crime Index
90 ✓ Safer
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.9%)
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 82°F
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 60°F
Rent averages $82/mo less ($1,942 vs $2,024)
Households earn $3,432 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Homes cost $52k less ($661,700 vs $714,000)
Smaller class sizes — 19.5:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $3,432/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$3,432
$96,036 vs $92,604/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.6% unemployment
Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 110.1 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
3% lower
342.6 vs 354.5 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Median Home Value
$52k less
$661,700 vs $714,000
Santa Rosa
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 81.6°F vs 72.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $714,000⚠ High | $661,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,942⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $96,036 ✓ Higher | $92,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.2% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.1% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ventura Unified | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 72.9°F | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 110,358 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 40.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.1% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s cost of living index is 113.5 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Santa Rosa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 11 and Santa Rosa wins 11. 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 Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($714,000 vs $661,700 median home), income ($96,036 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 347 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA vs Oxnard, CA
Santa Rosa, CA vs Ontario, CA
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA vs Temecula, CA
Santa Rosa, CA vs Elk Grove, CA
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA vs Santa Maria, CA
Santa Rosa, CA vs Rancho Cucamonga, CA
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA vs Costa Mesa, CA
Santa Rosa, CA vs Oceanside, CA