Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Columbia, MO
🏆 Columbia leads 12 of 22 categories
Arlington
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Columbia
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
126,172
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Households earn $11,281 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Columbia
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.0%)
Columbia, MO
Pros
28% less violent crime than Arlington
Rent averages $300/mo less ($997 vs $1,297)
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.0%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $11,281/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$11,281
$71,736 vs $60,455/yr
Arlington
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 88.6°F
Columbia
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Violent Crime
28% lower
347.5 vs 482.9 per 100k
Columbia
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Columbia, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $248,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $997 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $60,455 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A (123) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 55.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | COLUMBIA 93 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 44.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 17.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 126,172 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 48.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 19.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 11.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Columbia's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Columbia leads 12 of 22 categories. Arlington wins 10 and Columbia 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 Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $248,600 median home), income ($71,736 vs $60,455), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Columbia, MO are about 508 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.