Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Atlanta, GA
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469
Atlanta
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($251,300 vs $395,600)
43% less violent crime than Atlanta
Rent averages $215/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,512)
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Atlanta by $5,919/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Atlanta
Atlanta, GA
Pros
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,919 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Violent Crime
43% lower
482.9 vs 840.6 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$144k less
$251,300 vs $395,600
Arlington
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 90.0°F
Atlanta
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Atlanta
Median Income
$5,919
$77,655 vs $71,736/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Atlanta, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $395,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,512⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $77,655 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 23.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 57.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Atlanta Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 53.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 | 494,838 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 17.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 12.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Atlanta's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Atlanta is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Atlanta wins 11. 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 Atlanta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $395,600 median home), income ($71,736 vs $77,655), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Atlanta, GA are about 737 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.