Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Arlington, VA
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Arlington
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $582k less ($251,300 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $930/mo less ($1,297 vs $2,227)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $65,651/yr
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 2.8%)
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $65,651 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Arlington
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Arlington
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Home Value
$582k less
$251,300 vs $833,300
Arlington
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 89.6°F
Arlington
Median Income
$65,651
$137,387 vs $71,736/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
47% lower
254.4 vs 482.9 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Arlington, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $833,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $137,387 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 2.8% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 76.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 95.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Arlington County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 47.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 235,845 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Arlington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 11 and Arlington wins 12. 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 Arlington to Arlington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $833,300 median home), income ($71,736 vs $137,387), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Arlington, VA are about 1,198 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.