Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Boulder, CO
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Boulder
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $57,144 more per year on average
21% less violent crime than Boulder
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $86k less ($833,300 vs $919,700)
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Boulder, CO
Pros
Rent averages $374/mo less ($1,853 vs $2,227)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $57,144/yr
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 2.8%)
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$57,144
$137,387 vs $80,243/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
21% lower
254.4 vs 322.3 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$86k less
$833,300 vs $919,700
Arlington
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Boulder
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.2 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Boulder, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $919,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,853⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $80,243 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% | 28.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 96.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 85.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 106,598 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 28.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 47.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% ✓ More | 11.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Boulder's 107.2 (US average = 100).
Boulder is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 14 and Boulder wins 9. 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 Boulder or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $919,700 median home), income ($137,387 vs $80,243), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Boulder, CO are about 1,498 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.