Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Livonia, MI
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Livonia leads 16 of 23 categories
Livonia
Michigan
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
Phoenix
Arizona
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$72,092
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.
Livonia, MI
Pros
71% less violent crime than Phoenix
Homes cost $91k less ($249,000 vs $340,200)
Households earn $20,366 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 104°F
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Livonia by $20,366/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Livonia
Median Income
$20,366
$92,458 vs $72,092/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
71% lower
228.1 vs 799.6 per 100k
Livonia
Median Home Value
$91k less
$249,000 vs $340,200
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 98.0 on the COL index
Phoenix
Summer Heat
21.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 82.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Livonia, MI | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $249,000 ✓ Lower | $340,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,322 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,458 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.3% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.1% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Livonia Public Schools School District | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.4°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.9°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.0" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.0" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,928 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 45.2 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Livonia's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Livonia is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Livonia leads 16 of 23 categories. Livonia wins 16 and Phoenix wins 7. 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 Livonia to Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($249,000 vs $340,200 median home), income ($92,458 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Livonia, MI and Phoenix, AZ are about 1,669 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.