Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Miami, FL
🏆 Arlington leads 16 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845
Miami
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,858
Violent Crime Index
125⚠ High
Population
443,665 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $82,529 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Miami
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Miami, FL
Pros
Homes cost $399k less ($433,900 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $733/mo less ($1,494 vs $2,227)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $82,529/yr
Violent crime (473.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2995.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$82,529
$137,387 vs $54,858/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
46% lower
254.4 vs 473.3 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.0% unemployment
Miami
Median Home Value
$399k less
$433,900 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Miami, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $433,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,494⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $54,858 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 11.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 78.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 73.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" ✓ Drier | 57.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 | 443,665 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 30.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Miami's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 16 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 16 and Miami wins 7. 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 Miami or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $433,900 median home), income ($137,387 vs $54,858), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Miami, FL are about 923 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.