Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Charlotte, NC
🏆 Arlington leads 13 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469
Charlotte
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
34% less violent crime than Charlotte
Homes cost $62k less ($251,300 vs $312,800)
Rent averages $102/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,399)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 52°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.7%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Violent Crime
34% lower
482.9 vs 733.2 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$62k less
$251,300 vs $312,800
Arlington
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 90.3°F
Charlotte
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Median Income
$2,334
$74,070 vs $71,736/yr
Charlotte
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Charlotte, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $312,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,399⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $74,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 21.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 186⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 176⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 46.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 52.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 43.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 3.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 | 875,045 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Charlotte's 97.0 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 13 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 13 and Charlotte wins 10. 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 Charlotte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $312,800 median home), income ($71,736 vs $74,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Charlotte, NC are about 949 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.