Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 16 of 22 categories
Fresno
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Tucson
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Households earn $10,952 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
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
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Tucson
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $104k less ($218,200 vs $321,800)
20% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.5%)
Rent averages $236/mo less ($991 vs $1,227)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fresno by $10,952/yr
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Income
$10,952
$63,001 vs $52,049/yr
Tucson
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Violent Crime
20% lower
588.8 vs 735.5 per 100k
Tucson
Median Home Value
$104k less
$218,200 vs $321,800
Tucson
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.5% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 86.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 12.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 541,033 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tucson leads 16 of 22 categories. Fresno wins 6 and Tucson 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 Fresno to Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $218,200 median home), income ($63,001 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Tucson, AZ are about 600 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.