Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
101,893
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $46,128 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
32% less violent crime than Norwalk
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Homes cost $240k less ($593,100 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $367/mo less ($1,860 vs $2,227)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $46,128/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 2.8%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Arlington
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$46,128
$137,387 vs $91,259/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
32% lower
254.4 vs 374.4 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 84.4°F
Norwalk
Median Home Value
$240k less
$593,100 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Norwalk, 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 | $593,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,860⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $91,259 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 99 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 101,893 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 14 and Norwalk wins 9. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $593,100 median home), income ($137,387 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Norwalk, CA are about 2,286 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.