Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 12 of 19 categories
Germantown
Maryland
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Tempe
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $37,246 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 106°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Tempe
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $436/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 39°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $37,246/yr
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$37,246
$109,268 vs $72,022/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Home Value
$12k less
$382,100 vs $393,700
Tempe
Summer Heat
21.6°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 84.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% | 48.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Tempe leads 12 of 19 categories. Germantown wins 7 and Tempe wins 12. 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 Germantown to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $382,100 median home), income ($109,268 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Tempe, AZ are about 1,959 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.