Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe 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
Tempe
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
22% less violent crime than Tempe
Households earn $16,877 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,700
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,663/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($382,100 vs $494,700)
Rent averages $191/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,663)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 49°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Beaverton
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Beaverton by $16,877/yr
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Median Income
$16,877
$88,899 vs $72,022/yr
Beaverton
Violent Crime
22% lower
364.8 vs 470.3 per 100k
Beaverton
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Home Value
$113k less
$382,100 vs $494,700
Tempe
Summer Heat
23.6°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 82.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories. Beaverton wins 11 and Tempe 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $382,100 median home), income ($88,899 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Tempe, AZ are about 1,015 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.