Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 13 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $136k less ($246,000 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $458/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,472)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 106°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tempe by $10,519/yr
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tempe, AZ
Pros
60% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $10,519 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$136k less
$246,000 vs $382,100
Tempe
Median Income
$10,519
$72,022 vs $61,503/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
60% lower
470.3 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Tempe
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 94.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 13 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 10 and Tempe wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $382,100 median home), income ($61,503 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Tempe, AZ are about 324 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.