Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 18 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
Phoenix
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gresham, OR
Pros
49% less violent crime than Phoenix
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Phoenix
Median income trails Phoenix by $2,655/yr
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $72k less ($340,200 vs $411,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 47°F
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $130/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,452)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Violent Crime
49% lower
410.2 vs 799.6 per 100k
Phoenix
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Income
$2,655
$72,092 vs $69,437/yr
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$72k less
$340,200 vs $411,700
Phoenix
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
22.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 | $72,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 18 of 23 categories. Gresham wins 5 and Phoenix wins 18. 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 Gresham to Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $340,200 median home), income ($69,437 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Phoenix, AZ are about 990 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.