ArlingtonMoney Index August 2026
"Suburban Texas, suburban wealth."
Arlington — Money Index — Key Facts
- 58% Own Their Home. Only 58% of Arlington households own — well below the US average of ~65%. Most residents are still renting.
- Work-Life Balance: 62/100. Arlington scores 62/100 on work-life balance — one of the more livable big US metros.
- Happiness Score: 69/100. Residents rate life in Arlington a 69/100 — roughly the US average.
- Arlington Quirk. Arlington is one of the largest US cities without its own commercial airport.
- Cost of Living: 97. Arlington's cost of living sits at 97 — basically the US baseline (100 = US average).
- 27-Minute Commute. Arlington's one-way commute averages 27 minutes — right around the US norm. Roughly 207 hours a year on the road.
- Financial Stress: 50/100. Money stress in Arlington sits at 50/100 — calmer than most big US cities.
- Median Household: $67k. Arlington households earn about $67k — roughly 11% below the US average.
- 13% Savings Rate. Arlington households save about 13% of income — close to the US average.
- 9% of Land Is Parks. Only about 9% of Arlington's land is parkland — well below the big-city median. Outdoor recreation costs more here.
Sandwiched between Dallas and Fort Worth, Arlington combines DFW jobs with suburban affordability.
With a median household income of ~$67k, a 13% savings rate, and a cost-of-living index of 97, Arlington ranks #13 of 50 US cities in our overall money index.
Green space & commute
Two underrated money levers: how long you spend getting to work, and how much nature you can reach without paying for it.
Only ~9% of Arlington's land is parkland — below the big-city median. Free outdoor recreation is scarcer here.
- • Source: Trust for Public Land ParkScore
- • Parks lower stress and lift nearby property values
- • Free recreation = zero-cost lifestyle upgrade
Arlington's average commute (~27 min one-way) is close to the US average of ~27 minutes.
- • Source: US Census ACS mean one-way travel time
- • Owning a car runs ~$10k/year on average in the US
- • 10 fewer commute minutes/day ≈ 80 hours back per year
Typical Arlington household budget
Modeled split of $100 of after-tax income, scaled to Arlington's cost of living and savings rate.
How Arlington feels about money
Four Arlington money truths
Arlington's savings rate runs 13% — automate even one extra percentage point and you compound serious money over a decade.
Arlington is cheaper than the US average — your paycheck stretches noticeably further than in coastal metros.
Owning unlocks fixed housing costs and equity. Renters here can still build wealth — just channel the difference into index funds and a high-yield savings account.
Texas residents in Arlington report a 69/100 happiness score with stress at 50/100 — money habits and lifestyle here track that mix closely.
"Arlington is one of the largest US cities without its own commercial airport."
Money lessons from Arlington
- 1
Live cheap, earn big-city
- 2
Buy where commutes are short
- 3
Skip the suburb car race
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Arlington money FAQ
Is Arlington, Texas a good city for saving money?+
Arlington households save about 13% of income, with a happiness score of 69/100 and a work-life balance score of 62/100. Sandwiched between Dallas and Fort Worth, Arlington combines DFW jobs with suburban affordability.
What is the median household income in Arlington?+
The median household income in Arlington, Texas is roughly $67,000 per year. About 52% of households have a 3-month emergency fund.
How affordable is Arlington?+
Arlington's cost of living index sits at 97 (100 = US average). Homeownership stands at 58%.
How long is the average commute in Arlington?+
Arlington's average commute (~27 min one-way) is close to the US average of ~27 minutes.
How much urban green space does Arlington have?+
Only ~9% of Arlington's land is parkland — below the big-city median. Free outdoor recreation is scarcer here.
What money personality fits Arlington?+
The Builder — Steady, long-horizon, and obsessed with foundations.
What's surprising about money in Arlington?+
Arlington is one of the largest US cities without its own commercial airport.
