Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 13 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$59,312 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 107°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Yuma by $11,003/yr
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Yuma, AZ
Pros
43% less violent crime than Knoxville
Households earn $11,003 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 48°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 4.8%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Median Income
$11,003
$59,312 vs $48,309/yr
Yuma
Violent Crime
43% lower
423.6 vs 740.3 per 100k
Yuma
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 88.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $186,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $59,312 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yuma leads 13 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 9 and Yuma 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 Knoxville to Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $186,500 median home), income ($48,309 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Yuma, AZ are about 1,755 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.