Arlington, WA vs Lacey, WA

Lacey is moderately more affordable than Arlington, with a 5% lower cost of living index. Arlington scores 133 compared to 127 for Lacey, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Arlington can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Arlington is $1,764/month compared to $1,805/month in Lacey — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Arlington has cheaper rent, Lacey actually has lower median home values ($427,900 vs $492,600).

Median household income in Arlington is $84,919 compared to $87,277 in Lacey (-2.7%). Lacey 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 24.9% of their income on rent, more than the 24.8% in Lacey.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.4°F vs 50.5°F). Lacey receives more rainfall at 50.6" per year compared to 33.4" in Arlington.