Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 12 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Simi Valley
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
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
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $419/mo less ($1,983 vs $2,402)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.2%)
Homes cost $49k less ($655,700 vs $704,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Cons
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Alexandria
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 45°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.2%)
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Alexandria
Median Income
$1,035
$113,179 vs $112,144/yr
Alexandria
Median Home Value
$49k less
$655,700 vs $704,200
Alexandria
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.4% unemployment
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
41% lower
129.1 vs 219.1 per 100k
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $112,144 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 28.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 14.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 36.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 126,153 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Alexandria is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 11 and Simi Valley 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $704,200 median home), income ($113,179 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Simi Valley, CA are about 2,314 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.