Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 New Braunfels leads 14 of 22 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 ✓ Larger
New Braunfels
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New Braunfels by $21,348/yr
Cost of living runs 15% higher than New Braunfels
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
Homes cost $176k less ($290,800 vs $466,300)
70% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (3.8%)
Households earn $21,348 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Median Income
$21,348
$85,827 vs $64,479/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
70% lower
156.4 vs 518.1 per 100k
New Braunfels
Median Home Value
$176k less
$290,800 vs $466,300
New Braunfels
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $290,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,426⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $85,827 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 38.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 93.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 35.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 ✓ Larger | 92,993 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 14 of 22 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 8 and New Braunfels wins 14. 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 New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $290,800 median home), income ($64,479 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and New Braunfels, TX are about 1,460 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.