Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Carson, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 13 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Carson
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Carson
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (2.8%)
Households earn $34,342 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Carson, CA
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($616,000 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $412/mo less ($1,815 vs $2,227)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $34,342/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$34,342
$137,387 vs $103,045/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
39% lower
254.4 vs 420.0 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
2.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 76.9°F
Carson
Median Home Value
$217k less
$616,000 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Carson, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $616,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,815⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $103,045 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 122⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 29.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 82.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 13.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 94,475 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 19.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Carson's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 13 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 13 and Carson wins 10. 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 Carson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $616,000 median home), income ($137,387 vs $103,045), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Carson, CA are about 2,296 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.