Arlington, VA vs Los Altos, 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
Los Altos
67.9
#1370 nationally
Los Altos leads in median household income ($250,001 vs $137,387). Arlington leads in walk score (69 vs 46). Los Altos leads in average commute (22.8 min vs 28.2 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Los Altos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.2 (#917) | 67.9 (#1370) |
| Population | 238,643 | 29,990 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $815,538 | $4,601,729 |
| Median Household Income | $137,387 | $250,001 |
| Average Commute | 28.2 min | 22.8 min |
| Walk Score | 69 | 46 |
| Crime Level | Low | 2.1 |
| School Rating | 8.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 151 | N/A |
| 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+
67.9 Score
Los Altos, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$4,601,729
Population
29,990
Crime
Low
Walk Score
46
Pacific
View Los Altos, CA →
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