Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Homes cost $69k less ($312,800 vs $382,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 106°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Cons
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tempe, AZ
Pros
36% less violent crime than Charlotte
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 52°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Median Income
$2,048
$74,070 vs $72,022/yr
Charlotte
Median Home Value
$69k less
$312,800 vs $382,100
Charlotte
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Violent Crime
36% lower
470.3 vs 733.2 per 100k
Tempe
Summer Heat
15.6°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 11 and Tempe 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 Charlotte to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $382,100 median home), income ($74,070 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Tempe, AZ are about 1,772 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.