Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 12 of 23 categories
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
Phoenix
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
73% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $41,087 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 104°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 10% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $316k less ($340,200 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $661/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,983)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 45°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $41,087/yr
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$41,087
$113,179 vs $72,092/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
73% lower
219.1 vs 799.6 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Phoenix
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$316k less
$340,200 vs $655,700
Phoenix
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 14.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ 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 | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 11 and Phoenix wins 12. 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $340,200 median home), income ($113,179 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Phoenix, AZ are about 1,973 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.