Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Alexandria leads 14 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335
Violent Crime Index
60
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($655,700 vs $848,200)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Rent averages $165/mo less ($1,983 vs $2,148)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Cons
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Orange, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 45°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.2%)
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Alexandria
Median Income
$3,844
$113,179 vs $109,335/yr
Alexandria
Median Home Value
$193k less
$655,700 vs $848,200
Alexandria
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $109,335 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Alexandria is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 14 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 14 and Orange wins 9. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $848,200 median home), income ($113,179 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Orange, CA are about 2,278 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.