Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Arvada leads 18 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Los Angeles
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
61% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Homes cost $270k less ($553,000 vs $822,600)
Households earn $29,770 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Median income trails Arvada by $29,770/yr
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Arvada
Median Income
$29,770
$106,014 vs $76,244/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
61% lower
285.6 vs 728.5 per 100k
Arvada
Median Home Value
$270k less
$553,000 vs $822,600
Arvada
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Arvada
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Los Angeles, 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 ✓ Lower | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,791⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $76,244 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 36.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Arvada is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 18 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 18 and Los Angeles wins 5. 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 Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $822,600 median home), income ($106,014 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Los Angeles, CA are about 834 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.