Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Alexandria leads 17 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $68,735 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.0 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)
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
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $545k less ($111,200 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $806/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,983)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $68,735/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$68,735
$113,179 vs $44,444/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
79% lower
219.1 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
7.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 10.2% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 86.5°F
Trenton
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Median Home Value
$545k less
$111,200 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 17 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 17 and Trenton wins 6. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $111,200 median home), income ($113,179 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Trenton, NJ are about 157 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.