Arlington, OR vs Waterloo, OR

Arlington, OR and Waterloo, OR have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.2% difference in their overall index. Arlington scores 86 while Waterloo scores 89 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Arlington is $1,208/month compared to $1,094/month in Waterloo — a 10% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Waterloo has cheaper rent, Arlington actually has lower median home values ($159,200 vs $236,500).

Median household income in Arlington is $75,625 compared to $61,458 in Waterloo (+23.1%). Arlington offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Arlington spend roughly 19.2% of their income on rent, less than the 21.4% in Waterloo.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.9°F vs 52.2°F). Waterloo receives more rainfall at 41.5" per year compared to 8.6" in Arlington.