Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen 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
McAllen
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $49,688 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than McAllen
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $394k less ($158,700 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $751/mo less ($955 vs $1,706)
47% less violent crime than Arvada
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $49,688/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$49,688
$106,014 vs $56,326/yr
Arvada
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
McAllen
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
47% lower
150.0 vs 285.6 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$394k less
$158,700 vs $553,000
McAllen
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 27.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 13 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 10 and McAllen 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $158,700 median home), income ($106,014 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and McAllen, TX are about 1,021 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.