Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indio, CA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 12 of 22 categories
Indio
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,436
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
89,616
Tempe
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Indio, CA
Pros
29% less violent crime than Tempe
Rent averages $128/mo less ($1,344 vs $1,472)
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 5.7%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Tempe
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Median income trails Tempe by $3,586/yr
Tempe, AZ
Pros
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.7%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Indio
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $3,586 more per year on average
Cons
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
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Indio
Violent Crime
29% lower
336.2 vs 470.3 per 100k
Tempe
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Income
$3,586
$72,022 vs $68,436/yr
Tempe
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indio, CA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $373,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,344⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,436 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.4% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Desert Sands Unified | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.3°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 105.8°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 2.9" ✓ Drier | 8.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,616 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.3% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 19.2% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indio's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tempe leads 12 of 22 categories. Indio wins 10 and Tempe 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 Indio to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($373,200 vs $382,100 median home), income ($68,436 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indio, CA and Tempe, AZ are about 249 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.