Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 13 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
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.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $198k less ($184,600 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $426/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,472)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 106°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tempe by $12,912/yr
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tempe, AZ
Pros
46% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Households earn $12,912 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$198k less
$184,600 vs $382,100
Tempe
Median Income
$12,912
$72,022 vs $59,110/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
46% lower
470.3 vs 877.9 per 100k
Tempe
Summer Heat
22.2°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 83.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 13 of 23 categories. Indianapolis wins 10 and Tempe wins 13. 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 Indianapolis to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $382,100 median home), income ($59,110 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Tempe, AZ are about 1,491 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.