Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Greensboro, NC
🏆 Arvada leads 12 of 22 categories
Arvada
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Greensboro
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,051
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $50,963 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Greensboro
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Greensboro
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Homes cost $356k less ($197,200 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $658/mo less ($1,048 vs $1,706)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $50,963/yr
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$50,963
$106,014 vs $55,051/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
69% lower
285.6 vs 923.7 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Greensboro
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Greensboro
Median Home Value
$356k less
$197,200 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Greensboro, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,048 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $55,051 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 90.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Guilford County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 7.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 297,202 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 34.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 49.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 22.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Greensboro's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Greensboro is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arvada leads 12 of 22 categories. Arvada wins 12 and Greensboro wins 10. 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 Greensboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $197,200 median home), income ($106,014 vs $55,051), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Greensboro, NC are about 1,399 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.