Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Columbus, OH
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469
Columbus
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Households earn $8,742 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 37°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Columbus
Columbus, OH
Pros
10% less violent crime than Arlington
Homes cost $39k less ($212,500 vs $251,300)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $136/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,297)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $8,742/yr
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$8,742
$71,736 vs $62,994/yr
Arlington
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 85.0°F
Columbus
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Violent Crime
10% lower
434.9 vs 482.9 per 100k
Columbus
Median Home Value
$39k less
$212,500 vs $251,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Columbus, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $212,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,161 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $62,994 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 38.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 90.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Columbus City Schools District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 36.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 42.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 | 902,449 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 32.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 44.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 21.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Columbus's 94.5 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Columbus 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 Columbus or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $212,500 median home), income ($71,736 vs $62,994), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Columbus, OH are about 932 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.