Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 18 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169
Tempe
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $14,944 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 106°F
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $96k less ($382,100 vs $478,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $270/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,742)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kent by $14,944/yr
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$14,944
$86,966 vs $72,022/yr
Tempe
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Violent Crime
4% lower
470.3 vs 489.7 per 100k
Tempe
Median Home Value
$96k less
$382,100 vs $478,400
Tempe
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
27.6°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 18 of 23 categories. Kent wins 5 and Tempe 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 Kent to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $382,100 median home), income ($86,966 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Tempe, AZ are about 1,106 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.