Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
San Marcos, 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
San Marcos
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413
Violent Crime Index
59
Population
94,360
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
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Households earn $13,766 more per year on average
Homes cost $73k less ($655,700 vs $728,800)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 45°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $13,766/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher unemployment (4.2% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Alexandria
Median Income
$13,766
$113,179 vs $99,413/yr
Alexandria
Median Home Value
$73k less
$655,700 vs $728,800
Alexandria
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $99,413 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 16.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 41.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Alexandria is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 14 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 14 and San Marcos 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 San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $728,800 median home), income ($113,179 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and San Marcos, CA are about 2,257 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.