Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lubbock, TX
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Lubbock leads 12 of 23 categories
Lubbock
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190
Tucson
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.6%)
Homes cost $37k less ($181,600 vs $218,200)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,685 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tucson, AZ
Pros
28% less violent crime than Lubbock
Rent averages $102/mo less ($991 vs $1,093)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 55°F
Cons
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Lubbock by $6,685/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lubbock
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Income
$6,685
$58,734 vs $52,049/yr
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$37k less
$181,600 vs $218,200
Lubbock
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Violent Crime
28% lower
588.8 vs 821.0 per 100k
Tucson
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 92.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lubbock, TX | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 94.3 |
| Median Home Value | $181,600 ✓ Lower | $218,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,734 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LUBBOCK ISD | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.5" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.0" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 258,190 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lubbock's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lubbock leads 12 of 23 categories. Lubbock wins 12 and Tucson wins 11. 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 Lubbock to Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($181,600 vs $218,200 median home), income ($58,734 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lubbock, TX and Tucson, AZ are about 530 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.