Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 13 of 22 categories
Midland
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Midland, TX
Pros
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Rent averages $329/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,729)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Homes cost $23k less ($280,700 vs $304,000)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
35% less violent crime than Midland
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 60°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.2%)
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$1,982
$90,448 vs $88,466/yr
Midland
Median Home Value
$23k less
$280,700 vs $304,000
Midland
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.5% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
35% lower
235.7 vs 364.9 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 95.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $88,466 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 28.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Midland is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 13 of 22 categories. Midland wins 9 and San Tan Valley wins 13. 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 Midland to San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $304,000 median home), income ($90,448 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 556 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.