Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Carrollton, TX
🏆 Carrollton leads 17 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Carrollton
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,380
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $17,799 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.2%)
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
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $328k less ($327,300 vs $655,700)
37% less violent crime than Alexandria
Rent averages $428/mo less ($1,555 vs $1,983)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $17,799/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$17,799
$113,179 vs $95,380/yr
Alexandria
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 3.7% unemployment
Carrollton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Carrollton
Violent Crime
37% lower
137.1 vs 219.1 per 100k
Carrollton
Median Home Value
$328k less
$327,300 vs $655,700
Carrollton
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Carrollton, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $327,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,555⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $95,380 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 17.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 89.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 39.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 132,284 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 19.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Carrollton's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Carrollton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 17 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 6 and Carrollton wins 17. 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 Carrollton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $327,300 median home), income ($113,179 vs $95,380), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Carrollton, TX are about 1,177 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.