Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Tracy, 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
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $366k less ($251,300 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $865/mo less ($1,297 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $39,981/yr
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,981 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Arlington
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Arlington
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Home Value
$366k less
$251,300 vs $617,300
Tracy
Median Income
$39,981
$111,717 vs $71,736/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
38% lower
301.4 vs 482.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $617,300 median home), income ($71,736 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Tracy, CA are about 1,412 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.