Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 Arlington leads 17 of 22 categories
Arlington
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845
Jersey City
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Jersey City
Households earn $46,236 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $333k less ($500,100 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $428/mo less ($1,799 vs $2,227)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $46,236/yr
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$46,236
$137,387 vs $91,151/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
55% lower
254.4 vs 561.6 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Jersey City
Median Home Value
$333k less
$500,100 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $500,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,799⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $91,151 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 18.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arlington leads 17 of 22 categories. Arlington wins 17 and Jersey City wins 5. 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 Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $500,100 median home), income ($137,387 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Jersey City, NJ are about 205 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.