Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine 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
Irvine
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $774k less ($251,300 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1452/mo less ($1,297 vs $2,749)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $51,212/yr
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,212 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Arlington
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Arlington
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Home Value
$774k less
$251,300 vs $1,025,700
Arlington
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$51,212
$122,948 vs $71,736/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
83% lower
84.0 vs 482.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 304,527 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 9 and Irvine 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($71,736 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Irvine, CA are about 1,194 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.