Arlington, VA vs Des Plaines, IL
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
Des Plaines
76.4
#348 nationally
Arlington leads in median household income ($137,387 vs $86,552). Des Plaines leads in cost of living index (112 vs 151). Arlington leads in walk score (69 vs 57).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Des Plaines, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.2 (#917) | 76.4 (#348) |
| Population | 238,643 | 58,010 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $815,538 | $360,725 |
| Median Household Income | $137,387 | $86,552 |
| Average Commute | 28.2 min | 29.9 min |
| Walk Score | 69 | 57 |
| Crime Level | Low | 3.3 |
| School Rating | 8.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 151 | 112 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+58.6 | D+42.0 |
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
76.4 Score
Des Plaines, IL
Illinois community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$360,725
Population
58,010
Crime
Low
Walk Score
57
Midwest
View Des Plaines, IL →
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