Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 Arvada leads 13 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
San Antonio
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $46,421 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than San Antonio
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°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 San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $355k less ($198,000 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $517/mo less ($1,189 vs $1,706)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $46,421/yr
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$46,421
$106,014 vs $59,593/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
52% lower
285.6 vs 594.1 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
San Antonio
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$355k less
$198,000 vs $553,000
San Antonio
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | San Antonio, 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 | $198,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,189 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 24.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 34.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 13 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 13 and San Antonio wins 10. 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 San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $198,000 median home), income ($106,014 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and San Antonio, TX are about 809 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.