Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $386k less ($251,300 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1056/mo less ($1,297 vs $2,353)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $76,491/yr
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.4%)
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $76,491 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Arlington
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Arlington
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Home Value
$386k less
$251,300 vs $637,400
Arlington
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 87.3°F
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$76,491
$148,227 vs $71,736/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
71% lower
138.1 vs 482.9 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Highlands Ranch, 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 | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 9 and Highlands Ranch wins 14. 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 Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $637,400 median home), income ($71,736 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 644 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.