Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Lansing, MI
🏆 Arlington leads 15 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Lansing
Michigan
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $86,640 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Lansing
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (2.8%)
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lansing
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $721k less ($112,200 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $1273/mo less ($954 vs $2,227)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $86,640/yr
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$86,640
$137,387 vs $50,747/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
81% lower
254.4 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
2.8% vs 8.3% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 82.8°F
Lansing
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Lansing
Median Home Value
$721k less
$112,200 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $112,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $954 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $50,747 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 8.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 260⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 29.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Lansing Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 30.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 50.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 112,986 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Lansing's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Lansing is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 15 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 15 and Lansing 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 Lansing or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $112,200 median home), income ($137,387 vs $50,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Lansing, MI are about 471 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.