Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Goodyear, AZ
🏆 Goodyear leads 15 of 21 categories
Fresno
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Goodyear
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Rent averages $484/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,711)
Homes cost $74k less ($321,800 vs $396,100)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 98°F vs 107°F
Cons
Median income trails Goodyear by $34,306/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.5%)
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
75% less violent crime than Fresno
Households earn $34,306 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 55°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $396,100
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Home Value
$74k less
$321,800 vs $396,100
Goodyear
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Goodyear
Median Income
$34,306
$97,307 vs $63,001/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
75% lower
182.2 vs 735.5 per 100k
Goodyear
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.0% unemployment
Goodyear
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 97.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Goodyear, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $396,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $97,307 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Incito Schools (91326) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 97,542 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 77.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Goodyear's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Goodyear is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 15 of 21 categories. Fresno wins 6 and Goodyear wins 15. 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 Fresno to Goodyear or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $396,100 median home), income ($63,001 vs $97,307), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Goodyear, AZ are about 486 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.