Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Boca Raton leads 15 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Tucson
Arizona
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $43,521 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Tucson
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 67°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Tucson
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $379k less ($218,200 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $1179/mo less ($991 vs $2,170)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $43,521/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
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$43,521
$95,570 vs $52,049/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
71% lower
171.0 vs 588.8 per 100k
Boca Raton
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Median Home Value
$379k less
$218,200 vs $597,100
Tucson
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 66.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 15.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 15 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 15 and Tucson wins 8. 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $218,200 median home), income ($95,570 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Tucson, AZ are about 1,890 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.