City comparison
No. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 147 in Boston, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 175, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Arlington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,470 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Boston and Arlington. Boston averages 50°F while Arlington averages 67°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $2,147 versus $1,470.
Arlington is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Boston 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
Boston and Arlington are 1,566 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,470 a month in Arlington, down $677 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $75,171 in Arlington, down $22,173 (23%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 132 in Arlington, down 15 points (10%).
The move
Arlington and Boston are 1,566 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $677 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $97,344 in Boston, up $22,173 (29%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 147 in Boston, up 15 points (11%).
Boston, MA
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 Boston and Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
Arlington rent is 32% cheaper than Boston
Boston
$2,147/mo
Arlington
Winner$1,470/mo
Typical rent runs $1,470 a month in Arlington versus $2,147 in Boston, so Arlington is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $677/month back in your pocket ($8,124/year). Over five years that's $40,620 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Boston, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Arlington is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
29% higher
Boston's median income is 29% higher than Arlington
Boston
Winner$97,344
Arlington
$75,171
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $75,171 in Arlington, so typical pay runs 29% higher in Boston (about $22,173 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, Boston 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
10% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 10% lower than Boston
Boston
147 (100 = avg)
Arlington
Winner132 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 147 in Boston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 10% lower in Arlington. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Arlington, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Boston. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Arlington weather is 72% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
50°F avg · 56°F highs · comfort 58/100
Arlington
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boston averages about 50°F (56°F highs); Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Boston averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Arlington sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Arlington scores 72% 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 Boston 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 and professional growth
Boston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 29% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Arlington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 32% 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.
Pick Arlington if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (67°F) beat Boston on this page's weather index by 72%. Boston may pay more or cost less, but Arlington is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Arlington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 10% lower than Boston (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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,470/month in Arlington versus $2,147 in Boston. Median income reads $75,171 in Arlington and $97,344 in Boston, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Arlington rent at $1,470/month is still below Boston's $2,147, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $97,344 in Boston versus $75,171 in Arlington.
If housing cost drives your move, Arlington is the stronger match ($1,470/month rent against $2,147). If an employer or family tie already points to Boston, treat $2,147/month rent and $97,344 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Boston and Arlington, plus other cities in MA and TX.
