City comparison
No. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 164 in Columbus, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 140, using 2024 FBI data for Columbus and 2024-2025 FBI data for Arlington.
Columbus is cheaper. Median rent is $1,295 a month versus $1,470 in Arlington.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Columbus and Arlington. Columbus averages 53°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 $1,295 versus $1,470.
Arlington is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Columbus 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Columbus in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Columbus and Arlington are 929 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,295 a month in Columbus to $1,470 a month in Arlington, up $175 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $66,082 in Columbus to $75,171 in Arlington, up $9,089 (14%).
The crime index goes from 164 in Columbus to 132 in Arlington, down 32 points (20%).
The move
Arlington and Columbus are 929 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,295 a month in Columbus, down $175 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $66,082 in Columbus, down $9,089 (12%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 164 in Columbus, up 32 points (24%).
Columbus, OH
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 Columbus and Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Columbus rent is 12% cheaper than Arlington
Columbus
Winner$1,295/mo
Arlington
$1,470/mo
Typical rent runs $1,295 a month in Columbus versus $1,470 in Arlington, so Columbus is 12% 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 $2,100, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Columbus 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
14% higher
Arlington's median income is 14% higher than Columbus
Columbus
$66,082
Arlington
Winner$75,171
Median household income is $75,171 in Arlington versus $66,082 in Columbus, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Arlington (about $9,089 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. Columbus can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
20% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 20% lower than Columbus
Columbus
164 (100 = avg)
Arlington
Winner132 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 164 in Columbus (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% 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. Columbus can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Arlington weather is 52% more comfortable than Columbus
Columbus
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Arlington
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Columbus averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Columbus averages around 53°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 52% 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 Columbus if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Columbus
Columbus is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,295 a month. Choose Columbus if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
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 14% 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 20% lower than Columbus (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
Arlington runs 67°F typical weather against 53°F in Columbus (comfort scores 100 vs 66). Housing is $1,470/month versus $1,295/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
With only $175 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,295 in Columbus and $1,470 in Arlington.
If climate drives your move, Columbus is the stronger match (53°F typical weather versus 67°F). If an employer or family tie already points to Arlington, treat $1,470/month rent and $75,171 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 Columbus and Arlington, plus other cities in OH and TX.
