Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chandler, AZ
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Chandler leads 12 of 20 categories
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
Tempe
Arizona
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chandler, AZ
Pros
72% less violent crime than Tempe
Households earn $27,352 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,675/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $423,900
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $203/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,675)
Homes cost $42k less ($382,100 vs $423,900)
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Chandler by $27,352/yr
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chandler
Median Income
$27,352
$99,374 vs $72,022/yr
Chandler
Violent Crime
72% lower
133.4 vs 470.3 per 100k
Chandler
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 101.4 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Home Value
$42k less
$382,100 vs $423,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chandler, AZ | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.4⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $423,900⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,675⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,374 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.2% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F | 70.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F | 105.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.7" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 275,618 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chandler's cost of living index is 101.4 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Chandler leads 12 of 20 categories. Chandler wins 12 and Tempe 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 Chandler to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,900 vs $382,100 median home), income ($99,374 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chandler, AZ and Tempe, AZ are about 9 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.