Arlington, VA vs Berkeley, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Arlington
72.2
#917 nationally
Berkeley
59.6
#1947 nationally
Arlington leads in cost of living index (151 vs 222). Arlington leads in median household income ($137,387 vs $104,716). Berkeley leads in walk score (85 vs 69).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Berkeley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.2 (#917) | 59.6 (#1947) |
| Population | 238,643 | 118,962 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $815,538 | $1,460,437 |
| Median Household Income | $137,387 | $104,716 |
| Average Commute | 28.2 min | 30.4 min |
| Walk Score | 69 | 85 |
| Crime Level | Low | 17.5 |
| School Rating | 8.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 151 | 222 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+58.6 | D+53.6 |
C-
72.2 Score
Arlington, VA
Urban walkability meets federal opportunity
Median Home
$815,538
Population
238,643
Crime
Low
Schools
A
Southeast
View Arlington, VA →
F
59.6 Score
Berkeley, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,460,437
Population
118,962
Crime
High
Walk Score
85
Pacific
View Berkeley, CA →
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