Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Indianapolis, IN
🏆 Arlington leads 13 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845
Indianapolis
Indiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $78,277 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Indianapolis
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Indianapolis
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $649k less ($184,600 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $1181/mo less ($1,046 vs $2,227)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $78,277/yr
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$78,277
$137,387 vs $59,110/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
71% lower
254.4 vs 877.9 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 83.7°F
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$649k less
$184,600 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Indianapolis, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $184,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,046 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $59,110 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 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 | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 33.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Indianapolis Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 34.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 41.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 25.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 | 882,006 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Indianapolis's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 13 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 13 and Indianapolis wins 10. 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 Indianapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $184,600 median home), income ($137,387 vs $59,110), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Indianapolis, IN are about 487 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.