Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Hoover, AL
🏆 Hoover leads 16 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Hoover
Alabama
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $35,622 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (2.8%)
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 16% higher than Hoover
Hoover, AL
Pros
Homes cost $467k less ($366,200 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $875/mo less ($1,352 vs $2,227)
69% less violent crime than Arlington
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $35,622/yr
Higher unemployment (3.9% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$35,622
$137,387 vs $101,765/yr
Arlington
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
2.8% vs 3.9% unemployment
Hoover
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Violent Crime
69% lower
78.0 vs 254.4 per 100k
Hoover
Median Home Value
$467k less
$366,200 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Hoover, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $366,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $101,765 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 60.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 96.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Hoover City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" ✓ Drier | 59.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 91,995 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 69.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Hoover's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 16 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 7 and Hoover wins 16. 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 Hoover or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $366,200 median home), income ($137,387 vs $101,765), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Hoover, AL are about 661 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.