Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Goodyear, AZ
🏆 Goodyear leads 13 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066 ✓ Larger
Goodyear
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,307
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
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 1.7 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 107°F
Households earn $8,707 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Goodyear
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
36% less violent crime than Arvada
Homes cost $157k less ($396,100 vs $553,000)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.8%)
Median income trails Arvada by $8,707/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$8,707
$106,014 vs $97,307/yr
Arvada
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Goodyear
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Goodyear
Violent Crime
36% lower
182.2 vs 285.6 per 100k
Goodyear
Median Home Value
$157k less
$396,100 vs $553,000
Goodyear
Summer Heat
19.2°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Goodyear, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $396,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $97,307 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 16.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Incito Schools (91326) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 ✓ Larger | 97,542 |
| Median Age | 40.2 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% | 77.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Goodyear's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Goodyear is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 13 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 10 and Goodyear wins 13. 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 Goodyear or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $396,100 median home), income ($106,014 vs $97,307), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Goodyear, AZ are about 605 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.