Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Arden-Arcade
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,479 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,076
West Palm Beach
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
10% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Rent averages $229/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,614)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.2%)
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($324,800 vs $466,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 57°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Arden-Arcade
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Arden-Arcade
Violent Crime
10% lower
518.1 vs 575.8 per 100k
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 90.0°F
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$142k less
$324,800 vs $466,300
West Palm Beach
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 117,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Arden-Arcade is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Arden-Arcade wins 11 and West Palm Beach 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 Arden-Arcade to West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $324,800 median home), income ($64,479 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 2,512 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.