Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Midland
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $46,939 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than Midland
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Midland
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Midland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $553k less ($280,700 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $827/mo less ($1,400 vs $2,227)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $46,939/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$46,939
$137,387 vs $90,448/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
30% lower
254.4 vs 364.9 per 100k
Midland
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Home Value
$553k less
$280,700 vs $833,300
Midland
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $280,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $90,448 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.2% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 84.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 1.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 132,490 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Midland wins 11. 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $280,700 median home), income ($137,387 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Midland, TX are about 1,480 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.