Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alafaya, FL
VS
Arlington, VA
🏆 Arlington leads 11 of 20 categories
Alafaya
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,251
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,531
Arlington
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alafaya, FL
Pros
Homes cost $472k less ($361,800 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $459/mo less ($1,768 vs $2,227)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 45°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $44,136/yr
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 2.8%)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $44,136 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Alafaya
Key Differences at a Glance
Alafaya
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Alafaya
Median Home Value
$472k less
$361,800 vs $833,300
Arlington
Median Income
$44,136
$137,387 vs $93,251/yr
Arlington
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alafaya, FL | Arlington, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $833,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,251 | $137,387 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 2.8% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 73 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.9% | 76.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% | 95.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Arlington County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.2°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.2" | 47.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,531 | 235,845 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 35.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.4% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alafaya's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Arlington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Alafaya is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Arlington leads 11 of 20 categories. Alafaya wins 9 and Arlington 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 Alafaya to Arlington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($361,800 vs $833,300 median home), income ($93,251 vs $137,387), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alafaya, FL and Arlington, VA are about 752 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.