Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Livonia, MI
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Livonia leads 13 of 23 categories
Livonia
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
Tempe
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Livonia, MI
Pros
Homes cost $133k less ($249,000 vs $382,100)
51% less violent crime than Tempe
Households earn $20,436 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $237/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,472)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Livonia by $20,436/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Livonia
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Livonia
Median Income
$20,436
$92,458 vs $72,022/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
51% lower
228.1 vs 470.3 per 100k
Livonia
Median Home Value
$133k less
$249,000 vs $382,100
Livonia
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
23.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 82.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Livonia, MI | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $249,000 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,458 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.3% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.1% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Livonia Public Schools School District | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.4°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.9°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.0" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,928 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 45.2 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Livonia's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Livonia is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Livonia leads 13 of 23 categories. Livonia wins 13 and Tempe wins 10. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($249,000 vs $382,100 median home), income ($92,458 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Livonia, MI and Tempe, AZ are about 1,667 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.