Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Macon-Bibb County, GA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 14 of 22 categories
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554
Tempe
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
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.
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $227k less ($155,200 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $505/mo less ($967 vs $1,472)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 106°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Tempe by $23,125/yr
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.7%)
Tempe, AZ
Pros
69% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Households earn $23,125 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$227k less
$155,200 vs $382,100
Tempe
Median Income
$23,125
$72,022 vs $48,897/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
69% lower
470.3 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Tempe
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 93.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County, GA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $155,200 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $967 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,897 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 309⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 394⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.9% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bibb County | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,554 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Macon-Bibb County's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tempe leads 14 of 22 categories. Macon-Bibb County wins 8 and Tempe wins 14. 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 Macon-Bibb County to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,200 vs $382,100 median home), income ($48,897 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Macon-Bibb County, GA and Tempe, AZ are about 1,630 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.