Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 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
Seattle
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $629k less ($251,300 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $648/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,945)
38% less violent crime than Seattle
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $44,332/yr
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $44,332 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Violent Crime
38% lower
482.9 vs 775.1 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$629k less
$251,300 vs $879,900
Arlington
Summer Heat
19.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$44,332
$116,068 vs $71,736/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 14 and Seattle 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $879,900 median home), income ($71,736 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Seattle, WA are about 1,671 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.