Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Arden-Arcade, CA
🏆 Albuquerque leads 14 of 22 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Arden-Arcade
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,076
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $220k less ($246,000 vs $466,300)
Rent averages $371/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,385)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.5%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Arden-Arcade by $2,976/yr
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
56% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $2,976 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$220k less
$246,000 vs $466,300
Albuquerque
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.1% unemployment
Arden-Arcade
Median Income
$2,976
$64,479 vs $61,503/yr
Arden-Arcade
Violent Crime
56% lower
518.1 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Arden-Arcade, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $466,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,385⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $64,479 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 13.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 88.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | San Juan Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 94.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 21.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 96,076 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 16.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Arden-Arcade's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 14 of 22 categories. Albuquerque wins 14 and Arden-Arcade wins 8. 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 Albuquerque to Arden-Arcade or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $466,300 median home), income ($61,503 vs $64,479), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Arden-Arcade, CA are about 849 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.