Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Simi Valley
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
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 $25,243 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (2.8%)
Rent averages $175/mo less ($2,227 vs $2,402)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
49% less violent crime than Arlington
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $129k less ($704,200 vs $833,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $25,243/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 2.8%)
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$25,243
$137,387 vs $112,144/yr
Arlington
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
49% lower
129.1 vs 254.4 per 100k
Simi Valley
Median Home Value
$129k less
$704,200 vs $833,300
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $704,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $112,144 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 14.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 36.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 126,153 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 11 and Simi Valley wins 12. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $704,200 median home), income ($137,387 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Simi Valley, CA are about 2,313 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.