Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 16 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857
Mesa
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($184,200 vs $327,700)
Rent averages $309/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,352)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 106°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Mesa by $25,457/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Households earn $25,457 more per year on average
35% less violent crime than Knoxville
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$144k less
$184,200 vs $327,700
Mesa
Median Income
$25,457
$73,766 vs $48,309/yr
Mesa
Violent Crime
35% lower
482.7 vs 740.3 per 100k
Mesa
Summer Heat
17.6°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 88.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $73,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mesa leads 16 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 6 and Mesa wins 16. 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 Knoxville to Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $327,700 median home), income ($48,309 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Mesa, AZ are about 1,582 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.