Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Austin, TX
🏆 Austin leads 14 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Austin
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Austin
Households earn $26,623 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Austin
Austin, TX
Pros
Homes cost $194k less ($461,500 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $434/mo less ($1,549 vs $1,983)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Alexandria by $26,623/yr
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$26,623
$113,179 vs $86,556/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
53% lower
219.1 vs 466.9 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.4% unemployment
Austin
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Home Value
$194k less
$461,500 vs $655,700
Austin
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Austin, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $86,556 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% | 22.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 154⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 91.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | AUSTIN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 958,202 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 18.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Austin's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Austin is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 14 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 9 and Austin wins 14. 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 Austin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $461,500 median home), income ($113,179 vs $86,556), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Austin, TX are about 1,311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.