Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 15 of 22 categories
Fresno
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Rent averages $502/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 98°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $25,465/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 4.5%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
68% less violent crime than Fresno
Households earn $25,465 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 55°F
Homes cost $18k less ($304,000 vs $321,800)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$25,465
$88,466 vs $63,001/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
68% lower
235.7 vs 735.5 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$18k less
$304,000 vs $321,800
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 9.0% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 97.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 15 of 22 categories. Fresno wins 7 and San Tan Valley 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $304,000 median home), income ($63,001 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 528 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.