Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Antioch, CA
🏆 Alexandria leads 15 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Antioch
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,709
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
115,016
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
64% less violent crime than Antioch
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Households earn $22,470 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Antioch, CA
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($570,900 vs $655,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Alexandria by $22,470/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (3193.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Alexandria
Median Income
$22,470
$113,179 vs $90,709/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
64% lower
219.1 vs 606.8 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.9% unemployment
Antioch
Median Home Value
$85k less
$570,900 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Antioch, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $570,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $90,709 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 44.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 23.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Antioch Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 55.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 12.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 115,016 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 37.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 61.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Antioch's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Alexandria is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 15 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 15 and Antioch 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 Alexandria to Antioch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $570,900 median home), income ($113,179 vs $90,709), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Antioch, CA are about 2,397 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.