Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469
Raleigh
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $96k less ($251,300 vs $347,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 52°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 4.5%)
Median income trails Raleigh by $6,895/yr
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,895 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 96°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Home Value
$96k less
$251,300 vs $347,000
Arlington
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 90.6°F
Raleigh
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Income
$6,895
$78,631 vs $71,736/yr
Raleigh
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Raleigh 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $347,000 median home), income ($71,736 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Raleigh, NC are about 1,076 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.