Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Anchorage leads 12 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
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.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $23,709 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 106°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.2%)
Homes cost $18k less ($363,800 vs $382,100)
Cons
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
54% less violent crime than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 21°F
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Anchorage by $23,709/yr
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$23,709
$95,731 vs $72,022/yr
Anchorage
Median Home Value
$18k less
$363,800 vs $382,100
Anchorage
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Violent Crime
54% lower
470.3 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Tempe
Summer Heat
38.5°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Anchorage leads 12 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 12 and Tempe wins 11. 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 Anchorage to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $382,100 median home), income ($95,731 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Tempe, AZ are about 2,533 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.