Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Vista
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
98,392
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $48,672 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
20% less violent crime than Vista
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Vista, CA
Pros
Homes cost $210k less ($622,900 vs $833,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 45°F
Rent averages $225/mo less ($2,002 vs $2,227)
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $48,672/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 2.8%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Arlington
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$48,672
$137,387 vs $88,715/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
20% lower
254.4 vs 316.4 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
2.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 78.9°F
Vista
Median Home Value
$210k less
$622,900 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $622,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $2,002⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $88,715 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 27.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 11.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 11.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Vista wins 11. 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $622,900 median home), income ($137,387 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Vista, CA are about 2,258 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.