Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Lancaster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
66% less violent crime than Lancaster
Households earn $34,647 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $184k less ($368,800 vs $553,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 47°F
Rent averages $130/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,706)
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $34,647/yr
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Arvada
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Arvada
Median Income
$34,647
$106,014 vs $71,367/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
66% lower
285.6 vs 834.7 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$184k less
$368,800 vs $553,000
Lancaster
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Lancaster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $71,367 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 171,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 57.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Arvada is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 14 and Lancaster wins 9. 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $368,800 median home), income ($106,014 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Lancaster, CA are about 798 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.