Is Arlington cheaper than Dallas?

No. Dallas is cheaper: typical rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,750 in Arlington — 16% lower. Median household income is $72,400 in Arlington compared with $70,518 in Dallas, so Arlington has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Arlington or Dallas?

Arlington is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 109 in Dallas — 71% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Arlington or Dallas?

School composites are close: A- in Arlington and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Arlington, TX vs Dallas, TX

Arlington, TX versus Dallas, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,750 a month in Arlington and $1,472 in Dallas, and median household income lands at $72,400 versus $70,518. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Arlington takes job market and safety, while Dallas takes affordability. The widest gap is crime index, where Arlington leads by 71% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Arlington can feel further apart than Arlington and Dallas do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Arlington and Dallas reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Arlington report Full Dallas report

Arlington, TX

Rent: $1,750/mo
Median income: $72,400
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 91°F

Dallas, TX

Rent: $1,472/mo
Median income: $70,518
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 91°F

Rent

16% cheaper

Dallas rent is 16% cheaper than Arlington

Arlington

$1,750/mo

Dallas

Winner

$1,472/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,750 in Arlington, so Dallas is 16% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,336 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Dallas still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Arlington.

Median income

3% higher

Arlington's median income is 3% higher than Dallas

Arlington

Winner

$72,400

Dallas

$70,518

What this means for your life

Median household income is $72,400 in Arlington versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Arlington — about $1,882 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

71% lower crime

Arlington's crime index is 71% lower than Dallas

Arlington

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

Dallas

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Arlington's crime index is 32 versus 109 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% lower in Arlington. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Arlington is the easier city. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Arlington and Dallas are about even on school scores.

Arlington

A- · 84/100

Dallas

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Arlington, A- in Dallas). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

Neck and neck

Arlington and Dallas are about even on typical weather.

Arlington

91°F typical

Dallas

91°F typical

What this means for your life

Outdoor comfort is close between Arlington and Dallas. Typical temperatures sit around 91°F in Arlington and 91°F in Dallas. You are choosing a flavor of season, not paradise versus misery. Visit in the season you currently like least. A long weekend in October lies; a week in July or January does not.

Fit check

Who should choose Arlington

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Arlington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 3% higher here ($72,400). Start with Arlington if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Arlington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 71% lower than Dallas (32 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Arlington report →

Fit check

Who should choose Dallas

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Dallas

Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Open the Dallas report →

Bottom line

Arlington vs Dallas, called

If safety is your priority, Arlington is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Dallas pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Arlington offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Arlington vs Dallas FAQ

Is Arlington cheaper than Dallas?: No. Dallas is cheaper: typical rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,750 in Arlington — 16% lower. Median household income is $72,400 in Arlington compared with $70,518 in Dallas, so Arlington has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Arlington or Dallas?: Arlington is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 109 in Dallas — 71% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Arlington or Dallas?: School composites are close: A- in Arlington and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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