Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Alexandria
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Midland
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
40% less violent crime than Midland
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $22,731 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Midland
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Midland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $375k less ($280,700 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $583/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,983)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $22,731/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$22,731
$113,179 vs $90,448/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
40% lower
219.1 vs 364.9 per 100k
Midland
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Home Value
$375k less
$280,700 vs $655,700
Midland
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $280,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $90,448 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% | 3.2% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 84.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 1.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 132,490 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Alexandria wins 11 and Midland 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $280,700 median home), income ($113,179 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Midland, TX are about 1,480 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.