City comparison
Yes. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 132 in Arlington, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Arlington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,470 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
Safety is where Tampa and Arlington split most clearly. Tampa scores 39 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,701 in Tampa and $1,470 in Arlington.
This is a genuine split. Tampa wins on the job market and safety and Arlington wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Tampa has rougher pockets and Arlington has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Tampa and Arlington are 933 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,470 a month in Arlington, down $231 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $75,171 in Arlington, down $304 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 132 in Arlington, up 39 points (42%).
The move
Arlington and Tampa are 933 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $231 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $75,475 in Tampa, up $304 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 93 in Tampa, down 39 points (30%).
Tampa, FL
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 Tampa and Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Arlington rent is 14% cheaper than Tampa
Tampa
$1,701/mo
Arlington
Winner$1,470/mo
Typical rent runs $1,470 a month in Arlington versus $1,701 in Tampa, so Arlington is 14% 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 $2,772, 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 Tampa.
Planning to buy in Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Tampa's median income is 1% higher than Arlington
Tampa
Winner$75,475
Arlington
$75,171
Median household income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $75,171 in Arlington, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Tampa (about $304 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
Tampa's crime index is 30% lower than Arlington
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Arlington
132 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 132 in Arlington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% lower in Tampa. 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, Tampa is the easier city. Arlington can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Tampa and Arlington are about even on typical weather.
Tampa
75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Arlington
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs); Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Tampa sits near 75°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
Tampa is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($75,475). Start with Tampa if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Tampa 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 Arlington (93 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Arlington
Arlington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% 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.
Bottom line
Arlington carries the heavier crime signal on this page (52/100 safety vs 62/100 in Tampa). That 10-point spread matters more than the $231 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Tampa still pays more locally ($75,475 median income vs $75,171), which can offset the lease if your field pays Tampa rates.
Median income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $75,171 in Arlington.
Pick Tampa when you want the stronger safety signal (62/100). Otherwise, Arlington's case rests on a Arlington ZIP you trust at $1,470 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tampa and Arlington, plus other cities in FL and TX.
