Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Denver, 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 ✓ Safer
Population
393,469
Denver
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $289k less ($251,300 vs $540,400)
51% less violent crime than Denver
Rent averages $368/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,665)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Denver by $14,117/yr
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.7%)
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $14,117 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Violent Crime
51% lower
482.9 vs 993.0 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$289k less
$251,300 vs $540,400
Arlington
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 90.2°F
Denver
Median Income
$14,117
$85,853 vs $71,736/yr
Denver
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Denver, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $540,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $85,853 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 20.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 247⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 46.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 15.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 | 710,800 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 12.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Denver's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Denver 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 Denver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $540,400 median home), income ($71,736 vs $85,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Denver, CO are about 651 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.