Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 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
Tyler
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $50,123 more per year on average
44% less violent crime than Tyler
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.2%)
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
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Tyler
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $451k less ($205,200 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $870/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,983)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $50,123/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$50,123
$113,179 vs $63,056/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
44% lower
219.1 vs 391.2 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.3% unemployment
Tyler
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Median Home Value
$451k less
$205,200 vs $655,700
Tyler
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 12 and Tyler 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $205,200 median home), income ($113,179 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Tyler, TX are about 1,116 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.