Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Arvada leads 17 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Vancouver
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
51% less violent crime than Vancouver
Households earn $32,388 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($403,400 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $181/mo less ($1,525 vs $1,706)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 88°F
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $32,388/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Arvada
Median Income
$32,388
$106,014 vs $73,626/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
51% lower
285.6 vs 582.3 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Arvada
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Median Home Value
$150k less
$403,400 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $403,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,525⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $73,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ 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 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 4.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Arvada is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 17 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 17 and Vancouver wins 6. 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $403,400 median home), income ($106,014 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Vancouver, WA are about 969 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.