Arlington, VA vs Raleigh, NC
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
72.2
#917 nationally
Raleigh
71
#1035 nationally
Arlington leads in walk score (69 vs 31). Arlington leads in median household income ($137,387 vs $82,424). Raleigh leads in cost of living index (105 vs 151).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.2 (#917) | 71 (#1035) |
| Population | 238,643 | 470,763 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $815,538 | $435,237 |
| Median Household Income | $137,387 | $82,424 |
| Average Commute | 28.2 min | 24.3 min |
| Walk Score | 69 | 31 |
| Crime Level | Low | 32.0 |
| School Rating | 8.8 | 7.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 151 | 105 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+58.6 | D+25.6 |
C-
72.2 Score
Arlington, VA
Urban walkability meets federal opportunity
Median Home
$815,538
Population
238,643
Crime
Low
Schools
A
Southeast
View Arlington, VA →
C-
71 Score
Raleigh, NC
Research Triangle innovation hub
Median Home
$435,237
Population
470,763
Crime
Moderate-Low
Schools
B+
Southeast
View Raleigh, NC →