Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 15 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.5%)
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $8,223/yr
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $616k less ($304,000 vs $919,700)
27% less violent crime than Boulder
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 47°F
Households earn $8,223 more per year on average
Cons
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$8,223
$88,466 vs $80,243/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
27% lower
235.7 vs 322.3 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$616k less
$304,000 vs $919,700
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
16.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,729⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 92.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 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 15 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 8 and San Tan Valley 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 Boulder to San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $304,000 median home), income ($80,243 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 588 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.