Arlington, VA vs Salinas, 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
Salinas
63.5
#1766 nationally
Arlington leads in median household income ($137,387 vs $84,250). Arlington leads in walk score (69 vs 55). Salinas leads in average commute (25.9 min vs 28.2 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Salinas, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.2 (#917) | 63.5 (#1766) |
| Population | 238,643 | 159,506 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $815,538 | $753,868 |
| Median Household Income | $137,387 | $84,250 |
| Average Commute | 28.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Walk Score | 69 | 55 |
| Crime Level | Low | 14.4 |
| School Rating | 8.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 151 | 149 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+58.6 | D+29.9 |
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 →
D
63.5 Score
Salinas, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$753,868
Population
159,506
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
55
Pacific
View Salinas, CA →