Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Spring Valley, NV
🏆 Spring Valley leads 16 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
157,594
Spring Valley
Nevada
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,341
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
220,114 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $43,838 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Spring Valley, NV
Pros
Homes cost $281k less ($375,200 vs $655,700)
57% less violent crime than Alexandria
Rent averages $460/mo less ($1,523 vs $1,983)
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $43,838/yr
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 3.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$43,838
$113,179 vs $69,341/yr
Alexandria
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.6% unemployment
Spring Valley
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Spring Valley
Violent Crime
57% lower
94.1 vs 219.1 per 100k
Spring Valley
Median Home Value
$281k less
$375,200 vs $655,700
Spring Valley
Summer Heat
16.2°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Spring Valley, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $375,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,523⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $69,341 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 6.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 220,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 19.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Spring Valley's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Spring Valley is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spring Valley leads 16 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 7 and Spring Valley wins 16. 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 Spring Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $375,200 median home), income ($113,179 vs $69,341), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Spring Valley, NV are about 2,087 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.