Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $172k less ($251,300 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $229/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,526)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sparks by $11,202/yr
Sparks, NV
Pros
18% less violent crime than Arlington
Households earn $11,202 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Home Value
$172k less
$251,300 vs $423,500
Arlington
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 92.1°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.3 on the COL index
Sparks
Median Income
$11,202
$82,938 vs $71,736/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
18% lower
394.4 vs 482.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 14 and Sparks 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $423,500 median home), income ($71,736 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Sparks, NV are about 1,343 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.