Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 15 of 23 categories
Berkeley
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385
Tucson
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,667 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Tucson
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $1062k less ($218,200 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $1076/mo less ($991 vs $2,067)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
8% less violent crime than Berkeley
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $52,667/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$52,667
$104,716 vs $52,049/yr
Berkeley
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Violent Crime
8% lower
588.8 vs 638.8 per 100k
Tucson
Median Home Value
$1062k less
$218,200 vs $1,280,300
Tucson
Summer Heat
26.0°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 15.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 15 of 23 categories. Berkeley wins 8 and Tucson wins 15. 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 Berkeley to Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $218,200 median home), income ($104,716 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Tucson, AZ are about 757 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.