Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Arvada leads 18 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Tacoma
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
73% less violent crime than Tacoma
Households earn $26,929 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
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $138k less ($415,300 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $217/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,706)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $26,929/yr
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Arvada
Median Income
$26,929
$106,014 vs $79,085/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
73% lower
285.6 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Arvada
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$138k less
$415,300 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Tacoma, 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 | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Arvada is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 18 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 18 and Tacoma wins 5. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $415,300 median home), income ($106,014 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Tacoma, WA are about 1,004 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.