Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Los Angeles, 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
Los Angeles
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
70% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Households earn $36,935 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Homes cost $167k less ($655,700 vs $822,600)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°F
Rent averages $192/mo less ($1,791 vs $1,983)
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $36,935/yr
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Alexandria
Median Income
$36,935
$113,179 vs $76,244/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
70% lower
219.1 vs 728.5 per 100k
Alexandria
Median Home Value
$167k less
$655,700 vs $822,600
Alexandria
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,791⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $76,244 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 36.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Alexandria is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 15 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 15 and Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $822,600 median home), income ($113,179 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Los Angeles, CA are about 2,302 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.