Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1404k less ($251,300 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $930/mo less ($1,297 vs $2,227)
38% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.6%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $35,061/yr
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,061 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Violent Crime
38% lower
482.9 vs 778.0 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$1404k less
$251,300 vs $1,654,800
Arlington
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
26.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$35,061
$106,797 vs $71,736/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Santa Monica wins 11. 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($71,736 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Santa Monica, CA are about 1,235 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.