City comparison
No. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 142 in Raleigh, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 128, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Arlington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,470 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
Raleigh and Arlington are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,470 in Arlington, and median household income lands at $85,395 versus $75,171. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Arlington is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Raleigh 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.
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
Raleigh and Arlington are 1,074 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,470 a month in Arlington, down $102 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $75,171 in Arlington, down $10,224 (12%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 132 in Arlington, down 10 points (7%).
The move
Arlington and Raleigh are 1,074 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $102 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $10,224 (14%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 142 in Raleigh, up 10 points (8%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Arlington rent is 6% cheaper than Raleigh
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Arlington
Winner$1,470/mo
Typical rent runs $1,470 a month in Arlington versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Arlington is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $102, or $1,224 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
14% higher
Raleigh's median income is 14% higher than Arlington
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Arlington
$75,171
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $75,171 in Arlington, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Raleigh (about $10,224 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, Raleigh 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
7% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 7% lower than Raleigh
Raleigh
142 (100 = avg)
Arlington
Winner132 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 142 in Raleigh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 7% 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 Raleigh. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Arlington weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Arlington
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Arlington sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Arlington scores 16% 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 Raleigh 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
Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh 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 6% 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 Raleigh on this page's weather index by 16%. Raleigh 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 7% lower than Raleigh (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
Pay is the headline: Raleigh median income is $85,395 versus $75,171 in Arlington (12% higher). Rent still runs $1,572/month in Raleigh and $1,470/month in Arlington, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Raleigh rates.
With only $102 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Safety scores read 49/100 in Raleigh and 52/100 in Arlington.
Raleigh clears the bar on local pay in this dataset. Arlington deserves a serious look only when keeping rent near $1,470/month beats chasing $85,395 median income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Raleigh and Arlington, plus other cities in NC and TX.
