Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $241k less ($251,300 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $564/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,861)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $26,143/yr
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Norwalk, CT
Pros
82% less violent crime than Arlington
Households earn $26,143 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Arlington
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Home Value
$241k less
$251,300 vs $491,800
Arlington
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 84.8°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$26,143
$97,879 vs $71,736/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
82% lower
85.0 vs 482.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 42.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Norwalk wins 11. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $491,800 median home), income ($71,736 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Norwalk, CT are about 1,426 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.