Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $73,343 more per year on average
56% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 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
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $509k less ($324,800 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $613/mo less ($1,614 vs $2,227)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 45°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $73,343/yr
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$73,343
$137,387 vs $64,044/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
56% lower
254.4 vs 575.8 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
2.8% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$509k less
$324,800 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | West Palm Beach, 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 | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 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 | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 14 and West Palm Beach wins 9. 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $324,800 median home), income ($137,387 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 856 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.