Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Corpus Christi, TX
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 22 categories
Arlington
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Corpus Christi
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,449
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
317,804
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
44% less violent crime than Corpus Christi
Households earn $7,287 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 8% higher than Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, TX
Pros
Homes cost $70k less ($180,900 vs $251,300)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $119/mo less ($1,178 vs $1,297)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 58°F
Cons
Violent crime (863.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3011.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Arlington by $7,287/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$7,287
$71,736 vs $64,449/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
44% lower
482.9 vs 863.6 per 100k
Arlington
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 88.7°F
Corpus Christi
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Corpus Christi
Median Home Value
$70k less
$180,900 vs $251,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Corpus Christi, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $180,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,178 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $64,449 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 4.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | CORPUS CHRISTI ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 63.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 34.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 317,804 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 57.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Corpus Christi's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Corpus Christi is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 22 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Corpus Christi 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 Corpus Christi or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $180,900 median home), income ($71,736 vs $64,449), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Corpus Christi, TX are about 342 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.