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Living in
Arlington.
About
Life in Arlington
If you're considering a move here, understand that Arlington is a sprawling, growth-oriented city of nearly 395,000 people wedged between Dallas and Fort Worth—and it's fundamentally shaped by that location. The economy runs on major employers like the GM Assembly plant, Texas Health Resources, and UT Arlington, plus the sports and entertainment infrastructure (Rangers, Cowboys, theme parks) that puts the city on the map, but day-to-day life is defined by suburban density, car dependency, and the relentless Texas heat. The median household income sits around $75,171, and the median home price hovers near $305,000, which is reasonable for the DFW area, though about 43% of renters and 28% of homeowners spend over 35% of their income on housing—so affordability varies significantly depending on your situation.
Arlington at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.9%
Foreign-Born
22.2%
Broadband Internet
92.4%
of households
Population Growth
+2.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics22.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Arlington: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Arlington, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (34.0%), and 24.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.8%
of residents
65 and Older
12.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.8%
of households
Married Couples
45.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.74
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for TX
Rent, home values, and income in Arlington
In Arlington, home values are 7% above the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,716
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1986
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $306,472 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TX
Unemployment in Arlington and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Arlington is close to the TX average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Arlington Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area
Commute26.6 min avg
How Arlington residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Arlington, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 59% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Major hub41.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 23% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Arlington runs 23% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
406.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,992.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Arlington Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 39 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Tarrant County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Tarrant County, which includes Arlington, the most common type is hail, with 39 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 39 | Hail | $10.7M |
| 2024 | 39 | Hail | $4.7M |
| 2023 | 38 | Hail | $4.5M |
| 2022 | 39 | Drought | $497,500 |
| 2021 | 27 | Hail | $829.4M |
| 2020 | 31 | Hail | $497,000 |
| 2019 | 41 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2018 | 19 | Hail | $181,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Tarrant County, county-wide
Air Quality56 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Tarrant County, which includes Arlington, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
56
Good Days
116
per year
Moderate Days
219
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Tarrant County, county-wide
Climate95°F summers, 39°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Arlington has hot summers (avg high 95°F) and mild winters (avg low 39°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
77°/56°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
95°/74°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/57°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
36.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.8"
Hot Days/Year
106
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
36
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
80
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 37°F | 2.34" |
| Feb | 62°F | 40°F | 2.63" |
| Mar | 70°F | 48°F | 3.37" |
| Apr | 77°F | 55°F | 3.13" |
| May | 84°F | 64°F | 4.33" |
| Jun | 92°F | 72°F | 3.54" |
| Jul | 96°F | 75°F | 1.70" |
| Aug | 96°F | 75°F | 1.68" |
| Sep | 89°F | 68°F | 3.32" |
| Oct | 79°F | 57°F | 4.72" |
| Nov | 67°F | 46°F | 2.62" |
| Dec | 59°F | 39°F | 2.81" |
Healthcare6 hospitals, avg 3.3/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Arlington
Arlington has 6 hospitals, averaging 3.3 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
6
within city limits
Uninsured
19.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.3 / 5
Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Texas Health Heart & Vascular Hospital Arlington
Acute Care Hospitals
Medical City Arlington
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Medical City Arlington · 3301 Matlock Road
- Emergency department: Medical City ER Grand Prairie · 5203 Lake Ridge Pkwy, Grand Prairie
Usmd Hospital at Arlington L P
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Usmd Hospital At Arlington L P · 801 W Interstate 20
- Hospital campus: USMD Hospital at Arlington · 801 Interstate 20 W, Arlington
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Perimeter Behavioral Hospital of Arlington
Psychiatric · 6.7 mi away · Arlington
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hurst-euless-bedford
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.2 mi away · Bedford
Methodist Mansfield Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.2 mi away · Mansfield
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education14.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Arlington
Arlington's student/teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 32.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
100
within city limits
Private Schools
15
within city limits
College Degree Rate
32.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington
Public · 4-year · 32,294 students · in-state tuition $11,950 · 58% graduate · median earnings $72,508 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 284 students · in-state tuition $20,640 · 30% graduate · median earnings $46,558 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Tarrant County College District
13 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 42,300 students · in-state tuition $1,998 · 25% graduate · median earnings $45,883 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 11,026 students · in-state tuition $63,590 · 82% graduate · median earnings $77,334 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,403 students · in-state tuition $41,870 · 55% graduate · median earnings $58,159 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,741 students · in-state tuition $40,844 · 42% graduate · median earnings $56,582 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Waco Mammoth National Monument, 76 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Arlington
Arlington has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Waco Mammoth National Monument (76 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
76 mi awayPublic Libraries in Arlington
Arlington Public Library System
101 W Abram St, Arlington
East Library And Recreation Center
1817 New York Ave, Arlington
Lake Arlington Branch Library
4000 W Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington
Northeast Branch Library
1905 Brown Blvd, Arlington
Southeast Branch Library
900 Se Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington
Southwest Branch Library
3311 Sw Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington
Woodland West Branch Library
2837 W Park Row Dr, Arlington
Cities Near Arlington
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Arlington?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Arlington FAQ
Is Arlington, Texas affordable?⌄
Arlington's median rent is $1,470/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $75,171/year. Median home value is $304,700.
Is Arlington, Texas safe?⌄
Arlington's violent crime rate was 406 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1993 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Arlington, Texas?⌄
Arlington has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Arlington, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Arlington is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,470/month and median household income is $75,171/year. The median home value is $304,700. About 57% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Arlington, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Arlington is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from