Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
11% less violent crime than Yakima
Households earn $16,002 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 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
Yakima, WA
Pros
Rent averages $283/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,297)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Arlington by $16,002/yr
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$16,002
$71,736 vs $55,734/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
11% lower
482.9 vs 544.3 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 88.3°F
Yakima
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 14 and Yakima 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $243,300 median home), income ($71,736 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Yakima, WA are about 1,563 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.