What it's like to live in Arlington
Arlington is a large city in Texas with schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Arlington deals with crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and hot summers.
The good
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Arlington compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Arlington
Based on Arlington's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,940
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $58,800 a year
- 57% of Arlington renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$60,940
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $30,470
- Homes cost 4.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,470/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,470 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $304,700. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $304,700 · 57% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.0% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.0%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 23% above US
406 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1993/100k · Arlington Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
27 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 26.6 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 95°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 39°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
6 hospitals
There are 6 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.3 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
33% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 33% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
100 public schools inside the boundary
There are 100 public schools inside the boundary and 15 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Waco Mammoth National Monument (76 miles away).
Bottom line
Nothing in Arlington's numbers stands out as a clear strength, and the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,470/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Arlington
All Texas guides →Moving to Grand Prairie →
6 mi away · pop. 201,883
Rent $1,629/mo · Income $81,619
Compare with Arlington →Moving to Forest Hill →
9 mi away · pop. 14,062
Rent $1,763/mo · Income $68,457
Compare with Arlington →Not sure Arlington is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.