City comparison
No. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Arlington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,470 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas.
Safety is where Dallas and Arlington split most clearly. Arlington scores 56 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Dallas and $1,470 in Arlington.
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. Dallas 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 crime gap is citywide. Arlington has rougher pockets and Dallas has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Dallas and Arlington are 18 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,470 a month in Arlington, down $2 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $75,171 in Arlington, up $4,653 (7%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 132 in Arlington, down 56 points (30%).
The move
Arlington and Dallas are 18 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,472 a month in Dallas, up $2 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $70,518 in Dallas, down $4,653 (6%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 188 in Dallas, up 56 points (42%).
Dallas, 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 Dallas and Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Arlington rent is 1% cheaper than Dallas
Dallas
$1,472/mo
Arlington
Winner$1,470/mo
Typical rent runs $1,470 a month in Arlington versus $1,472 in Dallas, so Arlington is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $2, or $24 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Arlington's median income is 7% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Arlington
Winner$75,171
Median household income is $75,171 in Arlington versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Arlington (about $4,653 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
30% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 30% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Arlington
Winner132 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% 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. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Dallas and Arlington are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Arlington
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Dallas
On these five categories Arlington takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Dallas because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Dallas 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.
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 1% 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 7% 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 30% lower than Dallas (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Arlington: Arlington scores 52/100 versus 41/100 in Dallas, with matched rent near $1,470/month. I would vet the exact ZIP in Dallas before trading 11 safety points for an identical lease.
Median income is $75,171 in Arlington versus $70,518 in Dallas — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Pick Arlington when you want the stronger safety signal (52/100). Otherwise, Dallas's case rests on a Dallas ZIP you trust at $1,472 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Arlington, plus other cities in TX.
