Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Arvada, CO
🏆 Arvada leads 15 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Arvada
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Rent averages $321/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,706)
Homes cost $87k less ($466,300 vs $553,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $41,535/yr
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 3.8%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Arvada
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $41,535 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Median Home Value
$87k less
$466,300 vs $553,000
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 88.2°F
Arvada
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Arvada
Median Income
$41,535
$106,014 vs $64,479/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
45% lower
285.6 vs 518.1 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Arvada, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $553,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,706⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $106,014 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 47.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" | 17.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 123,066 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 74.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Arvada's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Arvada is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 15 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 8 and Arvada wins 15. 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 Arden-Arcade to Arvada or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $553,000 median home), income ($64,479 vs $106,014), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Arvada, CO are about 872 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.