Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Arlington leads 15 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Households earn $27,292 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $140k less ($111,200 vs $251,300)
Rent averages $120/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,297)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $27,292/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$27,292
$71,736 vs $44,444/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
53% lower
482.9 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 10.2% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 86.5°F
Trenton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Median Home Value
$140k less
$111,200 vs $251,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 15 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 15 and Trenton 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $111,200 median home), income ($71,736 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Trenton, NJ are about 1,342 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.