Arlington, WA vs Lake Stevens, WA

Arlington is moderately more affordable than Lake Stevens, with a 13.7% lower cost of living index. Arlington scores 133 compared to 155 for Lake Stevens, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Lake Stevens 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 $2,189/month in Lake Stevens — a 19% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Arlington is more affordable at $492,600 median vs $593,900.

Median household income in Arlington is $84,919 compared to $118,290 in Lake Stevens (-28.2%). While Lake Stevens is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Arlington spend roughly 24.9% of their income on rent, more than the 22.2% in Lake Stevens.

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