Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 15 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Palmdale
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($251,300 vs $397,500)
12% less violent crime than Palmdale
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Rent averages $328/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,625)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.6%)
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
Median income trails Palmdale by $6,678/yr
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Households earn $6,678 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,625/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
12% lower
482.9 vs 551.0 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$146k less
$251,300 vs $397,500
Arlington
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Median Income
$6,678
$78,414 vs $71,736/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Palmdale, 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 | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $78,414 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 166,895 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 15 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 15 and Palmdale wins 8. 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $397,500 median home), income ($71,736 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Palmdale, CA are about 1,212 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.