Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Richmond
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $57k less ($251,300 vs $308,300)
Households earn $12,130 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Richmond
Richmond, VA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Arlington
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Median income trails Arlington by $12,130/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$12,130
$71,736 vs $59,606/yr
Arlington
Median Home Value
$57k less
$251,300 vs $308,300
Arlington
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 89.5°F
Richmond
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Violent Crime
30% lower
336.9 vs 482.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $308,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 227,171 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 11 and Richmond wins 12. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $308,300 median home), income ($71,736 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Richmond, VA are about 1,157 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.