Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Las Vegas, NV
🏆 Las Vegas leads 13 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845
Las Vegas
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,356
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $71,031 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
41% less violent crime than Las Vegas
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 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 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
Homes cost $468k less ($365,300 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $871/mo less ($1,356 vs $2,227)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $71,031/yr
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 2.8%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$71,031
$137,387 vs $66,356/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
41% lower
254.4 vs 429.8 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
2.8% vs 7.4% unemployment
Las Vegas
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Las Vegas
Median Home Value
$468k less
$365,300 vs $833,300
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $365,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,356⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $66,356 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ 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 | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 6.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 | 644,835 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Las Vegas's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Las Vegas is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 13 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 10 and Las Vegas wins 13. 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 Las Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $365,300 median home), income ($137,387 vs $66,356), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Las Vegas, NV are about 2,083 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.