Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 14 of 22 categories
Arlington
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Roseville
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $25,122 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (2.8%)
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Roseville, CA
Pros
Homes cost $237k less ($596,700 vs $833,300)
14% less violent crime than Arlington
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $287/mo less ($1,940 vs $2,227)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $25,122/yr
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$25,122
$137,387 vs $112,265/yr
Arlington
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.5% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 108.6 on the COL index
Roseville
Violent Crime
14% lower
219.2 vs 254.4 per 100k
Roseville
Median Home Value
$237k less
$596,700 vs $833,300
Roseville
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $596,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,940⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $112,265 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 27.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 19.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 148,879 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Roseville leads 14 of 22 categories. Arlington wins 8 and Roseville 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $596,700 median home), income ($137,387 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Roseville, CA are about 2,356 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.