Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469
San Francisco
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1097k less ($251,300 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1019/mo less ($1,297 vs $2,316)
19% less violent crime than San Francisco
14% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $64,953/yr
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $64,953 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Violent Crime
19% lower
482.9 vs 596.5 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$1097k less
$251,300 vs $1,348,700
Arlington
Summer Heat
34.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$64,953
$136,689 vs $71,736/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 11 and San Francisco 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($71,736 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and San Francisco, CA are about 1,498 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.