Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Bellevue, WA
🏆 Bellevue leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Bellevue
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
150,606
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Homes cost $306k less ($833,300 vs $1,139,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (2.8%)
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $195/mo less ($2,227 vs $2,422)
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $12,164/yr
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Bellevue, WA
Pros
46% less violent crime than Arlington
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Households earn $12,164 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,139,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3339.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.0% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Home Value
$306k less
$833,300 vs $1,139,500
Arlington
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.0% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 76.5°F
Bellevue
Median Income
$12,164
$149,551 vs $137,387/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
46% lower
138.6 vs 254.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Bellevue, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,139,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 | $149,551 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% | 29.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 159⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 70.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Bellevue School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 150,606 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Bellevue's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellevue leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 11 and Bellevue wins 12. 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 Bellevue or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $1,139,500 median home), income ($137,387 vs $149,551), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Bellevue, WA are about 2,311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.