Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 22 categories
Arlington
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469
San Antonio
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
19% less violent crime than San Antonio
Households earn $12,143 more per year on average
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
Cost of living runs 10% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $53k less ($198,000 vs $251,300)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Rent averages $108/mo less ($1,189 vs $1,297)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 58°F
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Arlington by $12,143/yr
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$12,143
$71,736 vs $59,593/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
19% lower
482.9 vs 594.1 per 100k
San Antonio
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$53k less
$198,000 vs $251,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $198,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,189 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 24.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 34.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 22 categories. Arlington wins 12 and San Antonio wins 10. 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 San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $198,000 median home), income ($71,736 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and San Antonio, TX are about 239 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.