Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Arlington leads 15 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($251,300 vs $415,300)
55% less violent crime than Tacoma
Rent averages $192/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,489)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
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 Tacoma by $7,349/yr
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
Households earn $7,349 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Violent Crime
55% lower
482.9 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$164k less
$251,300 vs $415,300
Arlington
Summer Heat
19.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$7,349
$79,085 vs $71,736/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Tacoma, 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 | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 15 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 15 and Tacoma wins 8. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $415,300 median home), income ($71,736 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Tacoma, WA are about 1,664 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.