Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 Alexandria leads 12 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $24,713 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
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 9% higher than San Tan Valley
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $352k less ($304,000 vs $655,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $254/mo less ($1,729 vs $1,983)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 45°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $24,713/yr
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.2%)
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$24,713
$113,179 vs $88,466/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
7% lower
219.1 vs 235.7 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.5% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$352k less
$304,000 vs $655,700
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,729⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $88,466 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 46 ✓ 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 | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 92.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 12 and San Tan Valley 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $304,000 median home), income ($113,179 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 1,954 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.