Arlington TX vs Oklahoma City OK — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Arlington, TX

Texas · Population: 394,769

  • Median HH Income$73,519
  • Median Home Price$313,683
  • Unemployment5.7%
  • Bachelor's+33.1%

Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma · Population: 688,693

  • Median HH Income$66,702
  • Median Home Price$207,961
  • Unemployment4.7%
  • Bachelor's+34.0%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Arlington
394,769
Oklahoma City
688,693
Oklahoma City +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Arlington
N/A
Oklahoma City
N/A
Median Age
Arlington
33.6
Arlington +
Oklahoma City
35.0
Foreign Born
Arlington
21.3%
Arlington +
Oklahoma City
12.0%
White
Arlington
43.2%
Oklahoma City
58.4%
Oklahoma City +
Black
Arlington
22.4%
Arlington +
Oklahoma City
13.4%
Asian
Arlington
7.3%
Arlington +
Oklahoma City
4.5%
Hispanic
Arlington
31.0%
Arlington +
Oklahoma City
21.7%
Spanish at Home
Arlington
N/A
Oklahoma City
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Arlington
$73,519
Arlington +
Oklahoma City
$66,702
Per Capita Income
Arlington
$35,226
Oklahoma City
$37,109
Oklahoma City +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Arlington
$63,758
Arlington +
Oklahoma City
$57,929
Unemployment Rate
Arlington
5.7%
Oklahoma City
4.7%
Oklahoma City +
Poverty Rate
Arlington
13.1%
Arlington +
Oklahoma City
15.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
Arlington
33.1%
Oklahoma City
34.0%
Oklahoma City +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Arlington
$313,683
Oklahoma City
$207,961
Oklahoma City +
Homeownership Rate
Arlington
54.8%
Oklahoma City
59.1%
Oklahoma City +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Arlington
442
Oklahoma City
429
Oklahoma City +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Arlington
2339
Arlington +
Oklahoma City
2375

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Arlington
33.8%
Arlington +
Oklahoma City
38.3%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Arlington
12.0%
Arlington +
Oklahoma City
12.6%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Arlington
18.2%
Oklahoma City
17.8%
Oklahoma City +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Arlington
18.4%
Oklahoma City
14.0%
Oklahoma City +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Arlington
16.0%
Oklahoma City
14.6%
Oklahoma City +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Arlington
13.3%
Arlington +
Oklahoma City
14.9%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Arlington
65.4°F
Oklahoma City
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Arlington
39.6 in
Oklahoma City
37.6 in
Oklahoma City +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Arlington
9.2 µg/m³
Oklahoma City
8.8 µg/m³
Oklahoma City +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Arlington
55.0%
Oklahoma City
75.0%
Oklahoma City +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Arlington
29.0 min
Oklahoma City
23.6 min
Oklahoma City +

Which City is Right for You?

Arlington leads in median household income at $73,519, while oklahoma City offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $207,961. On public safety, Oklahoma City is safer with a violent crime rate of 429 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in Arlington. Oklahoma City has a lower unemployment rate at 4.7%, and Oklahoma City has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.8 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Arlington scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.8%.

Compare More Cities

About Arlington & Oklahoma City