Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Arlington, VA
🏆 Arlington leads 11 of 18 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
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.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
14% less violent crime than Arlington
Homes cost $178k less ($655,700 vs $833,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $244/mo less ($1,983 vs $2,227)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $24,208/yr
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Arlington, VA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $24,208 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Violent Crime
14% lower
219.1 vs 254.4 per 100k
Alexandria
Median Home Value
$178k less
$655,700 vs $833,300
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 108.6 on the COL index
Arlington
Median Income
$24,208
$137,387 vs $113,179/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Arlington, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $833,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 | $137,387 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% | 2.8% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% | 76.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% | 95.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Arlington County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 47.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 235,845 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Arlington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 18 decided categories above, Arlington leads 11 of 18 categories. Alexandria wins 7 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 Alexandria to Arlington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $833,300 median home), income ($113,179 vs $137,387), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Arlington, VA are about 4 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.