Arlington, TX Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Arlington, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Arlington →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Arlington, Texas has a population of about 393,469. Typical household income is $71,736 per year, roughly in line with the median across the cities in our dataset (+0%).
Arlington's housing market shows a median home value of $251,300, below the multi-city benchmark (-23%), alongside median rent of $1,297 per month. Both figures matter for anyone weighing a move here.
Home prices in Arlington run about 3.5× median household income — a middle-of-the-road ratio, neither a bargain nor a stretch by our tracked standards. The local housing market has held steady, with prices up only 0.46% over the past year. Arlington carries a Relatively High hazard rating from FEMA — elevated risk that's typically reflected in higher insurance premiums.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,297/mo in Arlington would take 21.7% of your income.
$496/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($251,300) would take 22.4% of your income toward principal & interest.
$332/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Arlington
Median home value is $251,300 and median gross rent is $1,297/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Tarrant rose 0.46% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,723/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Arlington's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Arlington reported a violent crime rate of 406.4 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Arlington
Planning a move to Arlington? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Arlington, TX?
- For a quick read on Arlington: homes carry a median value of $251,300, rent runs a median $1,297 monthly, and household income is a median $71,736, all from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Arlington?
- Using the standard 30%-of-income rule of thumb, affording Arlington's median rent of $1,297/month takes an income of roughly $51,880 a year. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Arlington.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Arlington?
- Arlington's median rent of $1,297/month translates to about $51,880 a year needed to rent comfortably, versus roughly $57,496 a year for principal and interest on the $251,300 median home (20% down, 30-year fixed, today's rates). How long you'll stay is usually the deciding factor.
- Is Arlington safe?
- In 2025, Arlington reported 406.4 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, according to FBI data.
See the full salary breakdown for Arlington →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Arlington's.