Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Arvada leads 20 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
16% less violent crime than Renton
Households earn $13,722 more per year on average
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $158/mo less ($1,706 vs $1,864)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Cons
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Renton, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Median income trails Arvada by $13,722/yr
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Arvada
Median Income
$13,722
$106,014 vs $92,292/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
16% lower
285.6 vs 339.2 per 100k
Arvada
Median Home Value
$24k less
$553,000 vs $576,800
Arvada
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $92,292 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 36.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 89.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Arvada is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 20 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 20 and Renton wins 3. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $576,800 median home), income ($106,014 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Renton, WA are about 999 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.