Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley 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
Population
97,554
San Tan Valley
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
More college-educated — 48.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,700
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than San Tan Valley
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $191k less ($304,000 vs $494,700)
35% less violent crime than Beaverton
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 49°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Beaverton
Cons
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.5% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
35% lower
235.7 vs 364.8 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$191k less
$304,000 vs $494,700
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
21.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 82.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 ✓ Higher | $88,466 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 92.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 101,207 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 12 of 23 categories. Beaverton wins 11 and San Tan Valley 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $304,000 median home), income ($88,899 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 1,039 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.