Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 16 of 23 categories
Downey
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
Phoenix
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
42% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $12,144 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $339k less ($340,200 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $492/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,814)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Downey by $12,144/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$12,144
$84,236 vs $72,092/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
42% lower
460.5 vs 799.6 per 100k
Phoenix
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$339k less
$340,200 vs $679,000
Phoenix
Summer Heat
22.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 65.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 16 of 23 categories. Downey wins 7 and Phoenix 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 Downey to Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $340,200 median home), income ($84,236 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Phoenix, AZ are about 348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.