Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Arvada leads 12 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066
Providence
Rhode Island
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $44,649 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°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
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($293,000 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $492/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,706)
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $44,649/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$44,649
$106,014 vs $61,365/yr
Arvada
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.2% unemployment
Arvada
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 83.6°F
Providence
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Median Home Value
$260k less
$293,000 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 36.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 12 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 12 and Providence wins 11. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $293,000 median home), income ($106,014 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Providence, RI are about 1,758 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.