Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 17 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469
Mesa
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $76k less ($251,300 vs $327,700)
Cooler summers — July highs near 96°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.7%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Mesa
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Home Value
$76k less
$251,300 vs $327,700
Mesa
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Income
$2,030
$73,766 vs $71,736/yr
Mesa
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 95.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $73,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 17 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 6 and Mesa wins 17. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $327,700 median home), income ($71,736 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Mesa, AZ are about 846 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.