Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Clovis, CA
🏆 Clovis leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Clovis
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,554
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
120,607
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $38,833 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 98°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Clovis, CA
Pros
Homes cost $413k less ($420,700 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $745/mo less ($1,482 vs $2,227)
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $38,833/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$38,833
$137,387 vs $98,554/yr
Arlington
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
2.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Clovis
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.8 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Clovis
Median Home Value
$413k less
$420,700 vs $833,300
Clovis
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Clovis, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 107.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $420,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,482⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $98,554 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Clovis Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 14.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 120,607 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 28.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Clovis's 107.8 (US average = 100).
Clovis is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clovis leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 9 and Clovis 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 Arlington to Clovis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $420,700 median home), income ($137,387 vs $98,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Clovis, CA are about 2,306 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.