Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 16 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $478k less ($251,300 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $767/mo less ($1,297 vs $2,064)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $27,677/yr
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.2%)
San Marcos, CA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Arlington
Households earn $27,677 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Arlington
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Home Value
$478k less
$251,300 vs $728,800
Arlington
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 87.2°F
San Marcos
Median Income
$27,677
$99,413 vs $71,736/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
54% lower
222.4 vs 482.9 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 16 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 7 and San Marcos wins 16. 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 Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $728,800 median home), income ($71,736 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and San Marcos, CA are about 1,161 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.