Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Chandler, AZ
🏆 Chandler leads 12 of 22 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
95,042
Chandler
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,374 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $82k less ($341,700 vs $423,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $78/mo less ($1,597 vs $1,675)
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.8%)
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Median income trails Chandler by $5,186/yr
Chandler, AZ
Pros
20% less violent crime than Buckeye
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Households earn $5,186 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,900
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Higher rents — median is $1,675/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 101.4 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Median Home Value
$82k less
$341,700 vs $423,900
Chandler
Median Income
$5,186
$99,374 vs $94,188/yr
Chandler
Violent Crime
20% lower
133.4 vs 166.8 per 100k
Chandler
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Chandler, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $423,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,675⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 | $99,374 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 50 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 46.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 105.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 8.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 275,618 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 64.6% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Chandler's 101.4 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chandler leads 12 of 22 categories. Buckeye wins 10 and Chandler 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 Buckeye to Chandler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $423,900 median home), income ($94,188 vs $99,374), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Chandler, AZ are about 47 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.