City Comparison
Arlington vs Grants Pass
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Arlington scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Arlington
Grants Pass
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Grants Pass is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
24% lower than in Arlington.
Housing costs are a major driver: Arlington's average rent is
62% higher than Grants Pass's.
| Metric | Arlington | Grants Pass | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,350 | $1,450 | +62% |
| Groceries | $480 | $450 | +7% |
| Utilities | $175 | $400 | -56% |
| Transport | $130 | $120 | +8% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $150 | +53% |
| Monthly Total | $3,365 | $2,570 | +31% |
| Cost Index | 148 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Arlington offers 48% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Arlington delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Arlington is estimated at
$85,000 vs $58,000 in Grants Pass.
| Metric | Arlington | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $95,000 | $64,331 |
| Salary Needed | $85,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 64,189 idx | 57,438 idx |
| Household Income | $137,452 | $59,646 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Arlington runs warmer on average — a 57.2°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Arlington comes out ahead with 241 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Arlington sees 16.5 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Arlington | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 57.20°F | °F |
| Summer High | 85.40°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 26.90°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 50.20 in | in |
| Snowfall | 16.50 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 241 | |
| Humidity | 64.00% | 74.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Grants Pass has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
5,000 minutes (83 hours) per year compared to Arlington.
Arlington scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Arlington leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Arlington | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 78.0/100 | 27.0/100 |
| Walkability | 82.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 62.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Low | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Arlington is the larger city
— approximately 6x the population of Grants Pass.
From a growth perspective, Grants Pass is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Arlington has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Arlington | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 238,643 | 40,051 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 40.8 |
| Unemployment | 2.50% | 5.60% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Arlington
Advantages
Median household income exceeds $135,000 per year, placing it among the highest in the nation per US Census data.
Exceptionally high walkability and transit scores along the Metro corridors support a convenient car-lite lifestyle.
Top-tier public safety profile with violent crime rates well below the national average per Virginia State Police.
Major employment expansions, including Amazon HQ2 and prominent defense contractors, drive continuous job market vitality.
Extensive parks, recreation centers, and the Mount Vernon Trail offer abundant outdoor activities.
Drawbacks
Average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment exceeds $2,300 per Zillow and RentCafe data.
Overall cost of living is roughly 50% higher than the national U.S. average.
Highly competitive housing market makes purchasing a single-family home prohibitive for average earners.
Traffic congestion during peak commuting hours on regional arteries like I-66 can be severe.
High local demand places continuous upward pressure on commercial and residential property taxes.
Grants Pass
Advantages
Access to world-class outdoor recreation on the Rogue River, including rafting and fishing.
More sunny days and a warmer, drier climate compared to much of western Oregon.
Housing is comparatively more affordable than larger West Coast cities and some other Oregon metros.
A growing arts and food scene in a walkable, historic downtown.
Friendly community atmosphere appealing to families and retirees.
Drawbacks
Overall crime rate is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to property crime.
Limited high-wage job opportunities compared to larger economic centers.
Air quality can be impacted by wildfire smoke during certain seasons.
Presence of a significant homeless population in the downtown core.
High car dependency due to minimal public transportation options.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Arlington
#276Virginia, USA
61.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,350
Avg Salary
$95,000
Cost Index
148
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
78.0/100
Walkability
82.0/100
Sunny Days
241/yr
Avg Temp
57.20°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
2.50%
Livability
89
Business
84
Grants Pass
#584Oregon, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$64,331
Cost Index
112
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
27.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
70
Business
60
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