City comparison
Yes. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 214 in Greensboro, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 235, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Greensboro is cheaper. Median rent is $1,172 a month versus $1,470 in Arlington.
Safety is where Arlington and Greensboro split most clearly. Arlington scores 82 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,470 in Arlington and $1,172 in Greensboro.
Arlington is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Greensboro makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Arlington is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Greensboro at $1,172 average has pockets that run $972 and others at $1,572: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Arlington and Greensboro are 1,012 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,172 a month in Greensboro, down $298 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $61,515 in Greensboro, down $13,656 (18%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 214 in Greensboro, up 82 points (62%).
The move
Greensboro and Arlington are 1,012 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,172 a month in Greensboro to $1,470 a month in Arlington, up $298 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $61,515 in Greensboro to $75,171 in Arlington, up $13,656 (22%).
The crime index goes from 214 in Greensboro to 132 in Arlington, down 82 points (38%).
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Greensboro, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Arlington and Greensboro? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Greensboro rent is 20% cheaper than Arlington
Arlington
$1,470/mo
Greensboro
Winner$1,172/mo
Typical rent runs $1,172 a month in Greensboro versus $1,470 in Arlington, so Greensboro is 20% 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 $3,576, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Greensboro still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Arlington.
Planning to buy in Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
22% higher
Arlington's median income is 22% higher than Greensboro
Arlington
Winner$75,171
Greensboro
$61,515
Median household income is $75,171 in Arlington versus $61,515 in Greensboro, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Arlington (about $13,656 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Arlington is the stronger labor market on paper. Greensboro can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
38% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 38% lower than Greensboro
Arlington
Winner132 (100 = avg)
Greensboro
214 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 214 in Greensboro (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% 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. Greensboro can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Arlington weather is 33% more comfortable than Greensboro
Arlington
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Greensboro
56°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 75/100
Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Greensboro averages about 56°F (67°F highs). Arlington sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Greensboro averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Arlington scores 33% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Greensboro if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 22% higher ($75,171), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Arlington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 38% lower than Greensboro (132 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Greensboro
Greensboro is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,172 a month. Choose Greensboro if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Greensboro carries the heavier crime signal on this page (37/100 safety vs 52/100 in Arlington). That 15-point spread matters more than the $298 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (52/100 in Arlington vs 37/100 in Greensboro), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,172 in Greensboro and $1,470 in Arlington.
Arlington clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Greensboro deserves a serious look only when you already know the Greensboro block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Arlington and Greensboro, plus other cities in TX and NC.
