Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469
Oakland
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $633k less ($251,300 vs $883,800)
75% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $552/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,849)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Oakland by $22,653/yr
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,653 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Violent Crime
75% lower
482.9 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$633k less
$251,300 vs $883,800
Arlington
Summer Heat
24.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$22,653
$94,389 vs $71,736/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 14 and Oakland 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $883,800 median home), income ($71,736 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Oakland, CA are about 1,454 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.