Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Arvada leads 14 of 22 categories
Arvada
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Knoxville
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $57,705 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Knoxville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 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 Knoxville
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $369k less ($184,200 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $663/mo less ($1,043 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 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $57,705/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$57,705
$106,014 vs $48,309/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
61% lower
285.6 vs 740.3 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.8% unemployment
Knoxville
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$369k less
$184,200 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 4.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 191,857 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arvada leads 14 of 22 categories. Arvada wins 14 and Knoxville wins 8. 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 Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $184,200 median home), income ($106,014 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Knoxville, TN are about 1,183 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.