Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Lancaster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $118k less ($251,300 vs $368,800)
42% less violent crime than Lancaster
Rent averages $279/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,576)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.6%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
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
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Violent Crime
42% lower
482.9 vs 834.7 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$118k less
$251,300 vs $368,800
Arlington
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Lancaster, 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 | $368,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $71,367 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 171,465 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 57.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 11.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 14 and Lancaster 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $368,800 median home), income ($71,736 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Lancaster, CA are about 1,216 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.