Arlington, VA vs Melissa, 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
72.2
#917 nationally
Melissa
74.8
#551 nationally
Melissa leads in cost of living index (125 vs 151). Arlington leads in average commute (28.2 min vs 32.6 min). Melissa leads in median household income ($138,465 vs $137,387).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Melissa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.2 (#917) | 74.8 (#551) |
| Population | 238,643 | 23,571 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $815,538 | $430,394 |
| Median Household Income | $137,387 | $138,465 |
| Average Commute | 28.2 min | 32.6 min |
| Walk Score | 69 | N/A |
| Crime Level | Low | 1.0 |
| School Rating | 8.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 151 | 125 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+58.6 | R+11.2 |
Data coverage note: Melissa is missing data for 1 metric that Arlington has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
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
74.8 Score
Melissa, TX
Small Texas city with local appeal
Median Home
$430,394
Population
23,571
Crime
Very Low
Median Income
$138,465
Southwest
View Melissa, TX →