Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 15 of 22 categories
Lancaster
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Tempe
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
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.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 98°F vs 106°F
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Tempe
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.7%)
Tempe, AZ
Pros
44% less violent crime than Lancaster
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.7%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 59°F
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
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$13k less
$368,800 vs $382,100
Tempe
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Income
$655
$72,022 vs $71,367/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
44% lower
470.3 vs 834.7 per 100k
Tempe
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 97.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 8.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tempe leads 15 of 22 categories. Lancaster wins 7 and Tempe wins 15. 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 Lancaster to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $382,100 median home), income ($71,367 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Tempe, AZ are about 369 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.