Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 16 of 23 categories
Compton
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Tucson
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,679 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Tucson
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $271k less ($218,200 vs $489,400)
54% less violent crime than Compton
Rent averages $473/mo less ($991 vs $1,464)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.5%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Compton by $17,679/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
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Income
$17,679
$69,728 vs $52,049/yr
Tucson
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Violent Crime
54% lower
588.8 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Tucson
Median Home Value
$271k less
$218,200 vs $489,400
Tucson
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Tucson
Summer Heat
23.0°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 86.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 66.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 12.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 16 of 23 categories. Compton wins 7 and Tucson wins 16. 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 Compton to Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $218,200 median home), income ($69,728 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Tucson, AZ are about 443 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.