Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Arvada, CO
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Arvada
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,014
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $31,373 more per year on average
11% less violent crime than Arvada
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (2.8%)
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Arvada
Arvada, CO
Pros
Homes cost $280k less ($553,000 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $521/mo less ($1,706 vs $2,227)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $31,373/yr
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (3.8% vs 2.8%)
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$31,373
$137,387 vs $106,014/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
11% lower
254.4 vs 285.6 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
2.8% vs 3.8% unemployment
Arvada
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Arvada
Median Home Value
$280k less
$553,000 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Arvada, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $553,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,706⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $106,014 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 18.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 17.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 123,066 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 74.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 20.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Arvada's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Arvada is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Arvada 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 Arlington to Arvada or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $553,000 median home), income ($137,387 vs $106,014), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Arvada, CO are about 1,494 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.