Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 New Braunfels leads 12 of 22 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 ✓ Larger
New Braunfels
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $20,187 more per year on average
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than New Braunfels
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
Homes cost $262k less ($290,800 vs $553,000)
45% less violent crime than Arvada
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $280/mo less ($1,426 vs $1,706)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $20,187/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$20,187
$106,014 vs $85,827/yr
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
45% lower
156.4 vs 285.6 per 100k
New Braunfels
Median Home Value
$262k less
$290,800 vs $553,000
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $290,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,426⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $85,827 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 38.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 91.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 35.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 ✓ Larger | 92,993 |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 63.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 12 of 22 categories. Arvada wins 10 and New Braunfels wins 12. 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 New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $290,800 median home), income ($106,014 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and New Braunfels, TX are about 805 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.