Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $521k less ($251,300 vs $772,700)
Rent averages $700/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,997)
12% less violent crime than San Leandro
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Leandro by $25,405/yr
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,405 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Violent Crime
12% lower
482.9 vs 548.7 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$521k less
$251,300 vs $772,700
Arlington
Summer Heat
24.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Income
$25,405
$97,141 vs $71,736/yr
San Leandro
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,997⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $97,141 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 144⚠ 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) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 84.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 57.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 18.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 14 and San Leandro wins 9. 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 Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $772,700 median home), income ($71,736 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and San Leandro, CA are about 1,451 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.