Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 14 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $13,831 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 106°F
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Tempe, AZ
Pros
53% less violent crime than Denver
Homes cost $158k less ($382,100 vs $540,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 47°F
Rent averages $193/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,665)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Denver by $13,831/yr
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Median Income
$13,831
$85,853 vs $72,022/yr
Denver
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Violent Crime
53% lower
470.3 vs 993.0 per 100k
Tempe
Median Home Value
$158k less
$382,100 vs $540,400
Tempe
Summer Heat
15.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 14 of 23 categories. Denver wins 9 and Tempe wins 14. 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 Denver to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $382,100 median home), income ($85,853 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Tempe, AZ are about 589 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.