Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Tempe
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
57% less violent crime than Tempe
Homes cost $86k less ($296,100 vs $382,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $208/mo less ($1,264 vs $1,472)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 96°F vs 106°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 56°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Denton
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Violent Crime
57% lower
204.2 vs 470.3 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$86k less
$296,100 vs $382,100
Denton
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 95.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories. Denton 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 Denton to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $382,100 median home), income ($71,921 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Tempe, AZ are about 853 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.