Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Indio, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Indio
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,436
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
89,616
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $122k less ($251,300 vs $373,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 96°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $3,300 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Indio, CA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Arlington
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $373,200
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 5.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Median income trails Arlington by $3,300/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$3,300
$71,736 vs $68,436/yr
Arlington
Median Home Value
$122k less
$251,300 vs $373,200
Arlington
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.3% unemployment
Indio
Violent Crime
30% lower
336.2 vs 482.9 per 100k
Indio
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 95.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Indio, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $373,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,344⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $68,436 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 77.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Desert Sands Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 2.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 89,616 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 69.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 19.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Indio's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Indio 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 Indio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $373,200 median home), income ($71,736 vs $68,436), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Indio, CA are about 1,105 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.