City comparison
No. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Arlington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,470 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
The income gap between Austin and Arlington is significant: $93,658 median household versus $75,171. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,729 in Austin and $1,470 in Arlington.
This is a genuine split. Austin wins on the job market and Arlington wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Austin and Arlington are 175 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,470 a month in Arlington, down $259 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $75,171 in Arlington, down $18,487 (20%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 132 in Arlington, down 30 points (19%).
The move
Arlington and Austin are 175 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $259 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $93,658 in Austin, up $18,487 (25%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 162 in Austin, up 30 points (23%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Arlington rent is 15% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Arlington
Winner$1,470/mo
Typical rent runs $1,470 a month in Arlington versus $1,729 in Austin, so Arlington is 15% 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 $3,108, 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 Austin.
Planning to buy in Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
25% higher
Austin's median income is 25% higher than Arlington
Austin
Winner$93,658
Arlington
$75,171
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $75,171 in Arlington, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Austin (about $18,487 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, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. Arlington can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
19% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 19% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Arlington
Winner132 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 19% 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. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Austin and Arlington are about even on typical weather.
Austin
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Arlington
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Arlington sits near 67°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
Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 25% higher here ($93,658). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Arlington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 19% lower than Austin (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.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Arlington leads on safety (52/100 vs 45/100 in Austin). Typical rent is $1,470 in Arlington and $1,729 in Austin; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Arlington rent at $1,470/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,470 in Arlington and $1,729 in Austin.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Arlington; Austin only makes sense when you have walked the Austin ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,729 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Arlington when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Arlington, plus other cities in TX.
