City comparison
Yes. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 241, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Arlington and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Arlington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,470 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Safety is where Arlington and Orlando split most clearly. Arlington scores 110 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 $1,747 in Orlando.
Arlington is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Orlando 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. Arlington at $1,470 average has pockets that run $1,270 and others at $1,870: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Arlington and Orlando are 978 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $277 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $72,336 in Orlando, down $2,835 (4%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 242 in Orlando, up 110 points (83%).
The move
Orlando and Arlington are 978 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,470 a month in Arlington, down $277 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $75,171 in Arlington, up $2,835 (4%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 132 in Arlington, down 110 points (45%).
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Orlando, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Arlington and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Arlington rent is 16% cheaper than Orlando
Arlington
Winner$1,470/mo
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,470 a month in Arlington versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Arlington 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 $3,324, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Arlington still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Orlando.
Planning to buy in Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Arlington's median income is 4% higher than Orlando
Arlington
Winner$75,171
Orlando
$72,336
Median household income is $75,171 in Arlington versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Arlington (about $2,835 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
45% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 45% lower than Orlando
Arlington
Winner132 (100 = avg)
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% 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. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Arlington and Orlando are about even on typical weather.
Arlington
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Orlando
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (77°F highs). Arlington sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Orlando sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Arlington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,470 a month. Choose Arlington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Arlington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% higher here ($75,171). 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 45% lower than Orlando (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 Orlando
On these five categories Arlington takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Orlando because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Orlando only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Bottom line
Orlando carries the heavier crime signal on this page (33/100 safety vs 52/100 in Arlington). That 19-point spread matters more than the $277 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (52/100 in Arlington vs 33/100 in Orlando), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $75,171 in Arlington versus $72,336 in Orlando.
Pick Arlington when you want the stronger safety signal (52/100). Otherwise, Orlando's case rests on a Orlando ZIP you trust at $1,747 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Arlington when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Arlington and Orlando, plus other cities in TX and FL.
