Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Inglewood, CA
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 18 of 23 categories
Inglewood
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,563
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,806
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.
Inglewood, CA
Pros
16% less violent crime than Phoenix
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $689,700
Violent crime (674.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,666/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $350k less ($340,200 vs $689,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.2%)
Rent averages $344/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,666)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Inglewood
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Inglewood
Violent Crime
16% lower
674.6 vs 799.6 per 100k
Phoenix
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Income
$4,529
$72,092 vs $67,563/yr
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$350k less
$340,200 vs $689,700
Phoenix
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
26.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Inglewood, CA | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $689,700⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,666⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,563 | $72,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.8% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.6% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inglewood Unified | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 65.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,806 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.5% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Inglewood's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 18 of 23 categories. Inglewood 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 Inglewood to Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($689,700 vs $340,200 median home), income ($67,563 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Inglewood, CA and Phoenix, AZ are about 360 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.