Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Visalia
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,658
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
141,466 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $30,356 more per year on average
34% less violent crime than Visalia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 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
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
Visalia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $236k less ($316,600 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $417/mo less ($1,289 vs $1,706)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 47°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $30,356/yr
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$30,356
$106,014 vs $75,658/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
34% lower
285.6 vs 435.3 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Visalia
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 101.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Visalia
Median Home Value
$236k less
$316,600 vs $553,000
Visalia
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,289 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $75,658 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 21.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 86.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 55.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 141,466 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 60.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 28.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Visalia is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 12 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 12 and Visalia 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $316,600 median home), income ($106,014 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Visalia, CA are about 807 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.