Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 12 of 23 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
97,554
Phoenix
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
54% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $16,807 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 48.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,700
Higher rents — median is $1,663/mo
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($340,200 vs $494,700)
Rent averages $341/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,663)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 49°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Beaverton
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Beaverton by $16,807/yr
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.9%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Median Income
$16,807
$88,899 vs $72,092/yr
Beaverton
Violent Crime
54% lower
364.8 vs 799.6 per 100k
Beaverton
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.2% unemployment
Phoenix
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$155k less
$340,200 vs $494,700
Phoenix
Summer Heat
21.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 82.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 14.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 12 of 23 categories. Beaverton wins 11 and Phoenix wins 12. 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 Beaverton to Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $340,200 median home), income ($88,899 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Phoenix, AZ are about 1,000 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.