Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 15 of 22 categories
Houston
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $147k less ($235,000 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $237/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,472)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 106°F
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tempe by $11,582/yr
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.7%)
Tempe, AZ
Pros
59% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $11,582 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 63°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Median Home Value
$147k less
$235,000 vs $382,100
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 100.2 on the COL index
Tempe
Median Income
$11,582
$72,022 vs $60,440/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
59% lower
470.3 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Tempe
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 93.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tempe leads 15 of 22 categories. Houston wins 7 and Tempe wins 15. 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 Houston to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $382,100 median home), income ($60,440 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Tempe, AZ are about 1,004 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.