Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hampton, VA
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 12 of 23 categories
Hampton
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217
Phoenix
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
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.
Hampton, VA
Pros
69% less violent crime than Phoenix
Homes cost $120k less ($219,800 vs $340,200)
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 104°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Phoenix by $7,662/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.2%)
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $7,662 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 49°F
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
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
Hampton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Hampton
Violent Crime
69% lower
247.6 vs 799.6 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$120k less
$219,800 vs $340,200
Phoenix
Median Income
$7,662
$72,092 vs $64,430/yr
Phoenix
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.5% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
16.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hampton, VA | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $219,800 ✓ Lower | $340,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 ✓ Lower | $1,322 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,430 | $72,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 94 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hampton City Public Schools | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,217 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 12 of 23 categories. Hampton wins 11 and Phoenix 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 Hampton to Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($219,800 vs $340,200 median home), income ($64,430 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hampton, VA and Phoenix, AZ are about 2,020 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.