Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Boulder, CO
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Boulder
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $668k less ($251,300 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $556/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,853)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boulder by $8,507/yr
Boulder, CO
Pros
33% less violent crime than Arlington
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Households earn $8,507 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 85" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Home Value
$668k less
$251,300 vs $919,700
Arlington
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 88.0°F
Boulder
Median Income
$8,507
$80,243 vs $71,736/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
33% lower
322.3 vs 482.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Boulder, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $919,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $80,243 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 28.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 96.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 85.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 106,598 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 28.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 47.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 11.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Boulder's 107.2 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Boulder 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 Boulder or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $919,700 median home), income ($71,736 vs $80,243), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Boulder, CO are about 678 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.