Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Edinburg, TX
🏆 Edinburg leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Edinburg
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Households earn $17,597 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Edinburg
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($159,600 vs $251,300)
44% less violent crime than Arlington
Rent averages $377/mo less ($920 vs $1,297)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 58°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $17,597/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$17,597
$71,736 vs $54,139/yr
Arlington
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Edinburg
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Violent Crime
44% lower
269.6 vs 482.9 per 100k
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$92k less
$159,600 vs $251,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Edinburg, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $159,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $920 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $54,139 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 79.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | EDINBURG CISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 26.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 100,964 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 29.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% ✓ More | 9.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Edinburg's 85.6 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 11 and Edinburg 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 Edinburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $159,600 median home), income ($71,736 vs $54,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Edinburg, TX are about 445 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.