Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Phoenix
Arizona
9
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
79% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $23,478 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Phoenix
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $257k less ($340,200 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $848/mo less ($1,322 vs $2,170)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boca Raton by $23,478/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$23,478
$95,570 vs $72,092/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
79% lower
171.0 vs 799.6 per 100k
Phoenix
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$257k less
$340,200 vs $597,100
Phoenix
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 14.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 65.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 14 and Phoenix wins 9. 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 Boca Raton to Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $340,200 median home), income ($95,570 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Phoenix, AZ are about 1,969 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.