Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Arlington leads 13 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Norman
Oklahoma
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Households earn $8,887 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 50°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Norman
Norman, OK
Pros
46% less violent crime than Arlington
Rent averages $293/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,297)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $26k less ($224,900 vs $251,300)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $8,887/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$8,887
$71,736 vs $62,849/yr
Arlington
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 92.5°F
Norman
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Violent Crime
46% lower
260.2 vs 482.9 per 100k
Norman
Median Home Value
$26k less
$224,900 vs $251,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $224,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,004 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $62,849 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 37.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 4.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 127,701 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 13 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 13 and Norman wins 10. 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $224,900 median home), income ($71,736 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Norman, OK are about 176 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.