Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 13 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Tucson
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Households earn $22,021 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
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
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $95k less ($218,200 vs $312,800)
Rent averages $408/mo less ($991 vs $1,399)
20% less violent crime than Charlotte
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 52°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Charlotte by $22,021/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
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Median Income
$22,021
$74,070 vs $52,049/yr
Charlotte
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Violent Crime
20% lower
588.8 vs 733.2 per 100k
Tucson
Median Home Value
$95k less
$218,200 vs $312,800
Tucson
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 541,033 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 13 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 10 and Tucson wins 13. 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $218,200 median home), income ($74,070 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Tucson, AZ are about 1,733 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.