Arlington, TX vs San Marcos, TX
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Arlington
70.7
#1065 nationally
San Marcos
70.5
#1100 nationally
Arlington leads in median household income ($71,736 vs $47,394). San Marcos leads in crime level (9.8 vs 13.2). San Marcos leads in average commute (23.7 min vs 26.9 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Arlington, TX | San Marcos, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70.7 (#1065) | 70.5 (#1100) |
| Population | 398,431 | 71,569 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $312,255 | $310,480 |
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $47,394 |
| Average Commute | 26.9 min | 23.7 min |
| Walk Score | 38 | 39 |
| Crime Level | 13.2 | 9.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 101 | 100 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+5.1 | D+5.6 |
C-
70.7 Score
Arlington, TX
Growing Texas city with expanding opportunities
Median Home
$312,255
Population
398,431
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
38
Southwest
View Arlington, TX →
C-
70.5 Score
San Marcos, TX
Texas community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$310,480
Population
71,569
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
39
Southwest
View San Marcos, TX →
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