Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Goodyear, AZ
VS
Grand Rapids, MI
🏆 Goodyear leads 15 of 23 categories
Goodyear
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Grand Rapids
Michigan
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,634
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
80% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Households earn $35,673 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $396,100
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Homes cost $192k less ($203,900 vs $396,100)
Rent averages $573/mo less ($1,138 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 107°F
More college-educated — 39.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Goodyear
Cons
Median income trails Goodyear by $35,673/yr
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 75" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Goodyear
Median Income
$35,673
$97,307 vs $61,634/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
80% lower
182.2 vs 910.1 per 100k
Goodyear
Summer Heat
25.0°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 82.4°F
Grand Rapids
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Grand Rapids
Median Home Value
$192k less
$203,900 vs $396,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Goodyear, AZ | Grand Rapids, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $396,100⚠ High | $203,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $1,138 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,307 ✓ Higher | $61,634 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 240⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 39.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Incito Schools (91326) | Grand Rapids Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 30.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 39.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 74.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,542 | 198,096 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 54.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Goodyear's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Grand Rapids's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Grand Rapids is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 15 of 23 categories. Goodyear wins 15 and Grand Rapids wins 8. 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 Goodyear to Grand Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($396,100 vs $203,900 median home), income ($97,307 vs $61,634), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Goodyear, AZ and Grand Rapids, MI are about 1,590 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.