Arlington, VA vs Santa Clara, 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
Santa Clara
65.7
#1617 nationally
Arlington leads in cost of living index (151 vs 241). Santa Clara leads in median household income ($165,352 vs $137,387). Santa Clara leads in average commute (23.6 min vs 28.2 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.2 (#917) | 65.7 (#1617) |
| Population | 238,643 | 131,062 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $815,538 | $1,680,833 |
| Median Household Income | $137,387 | $165,352 |
| Average Commute | 28.2 min | 23.6 min |
| Walk Score | 69 | 58 |
| Crime Level | Low | 5.0 |
| School Rating | 8.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 151 | 241 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+58.6 | D+40.0 |
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
65.7 Score
Santa Clara, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,680,833
Population
131,062
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
58
Pacific
View Santa Clara, CA →
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