Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Arlington leads 13 of 22 categories
Arlington
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Knoxville
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Households earn $23,427 more per year on average
35% less violent crime than Knoxville
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Knoxville
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.8%)
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $67k less ($184,200 vs $251,300)
Rent averages $254/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,297)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $23,427/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$23,427
$71,736 vs $48,309/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
35% lower
482.9 vs 740.3 per 100k
Arlington
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 88.3°F
Knoxville
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$67k less
$184,200 vs $251,300
Knoxville
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 4.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 191,857 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arlington leads 13 of 22 categories. Arlington wins 13 and Knoxville wins 9. 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 Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $184,200 median home), income ($71,736 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Knoxville, TN are about 784 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.