Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Clovis, CA
🏆 Arvada leads 12 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066 ✓ Larger
Clovis
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,554
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
120,607
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 98°F
Households earn $7,460 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Clovis
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Clovis, CA
Pros
Homes cost $132k less ($420,700 vs $553,000)
14% less violent crime than Arvada
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.6 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $224/mo less ($1,482 vs $1,706)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.8%)
Median income trails Arvada by $7,460/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Arvada
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.8 (100 = US avg)
Arvada
Median Income
$7,460
$106,014 vs $98,554/yr
Arvada
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Clovis
Violent Crime
14% lower
244.6 vs 285.6 per 100k
Clovis
Median Home Value
$132k less
$420,700 vs $553,000
Clovis
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Clovis, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $420,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,482⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $98,554 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Clovis Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 14.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 ✓ Larger | 120,607 |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 66.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 28.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Clovis's 107.8 (US average = 100).
Arvada is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 12 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 12 and Clovis 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 Arvada to Clovis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $420,700 median home), income ($106,014 vs $98,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Clovis, CA are about 814 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.