Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Boca Raton, FL
🏆 Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Boca Raton
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $346k less ($251,300 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $873/mo less ($1,297 vs $2,170)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boca Raton by $23,834/yr
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
65% less violent crime than Arlington
Households earn $23,834 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Arlington
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Home Value
$346k less
$251,300 vs $597,100
Arlington
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 90.5°F
Boca Raton
Median Income
$23,834
$95,570 vs $71,736/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
65% lower
171.0 vs 482.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Boca Raton, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $597,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $2,170⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $95,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 18.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 96.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 65.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 97,980 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 47.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 25.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Boca Raton's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 9 and Boca Raton wins 14. 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 Boca Raton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $597,100 median home), income ($71,736 vs $95,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Boca Raton, FL are about 1,111 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.